Whether you’re just getting away for a long weekend or spending a few weeks out of the house, it’s important to ensure your home is safe while you’re gone. Follow these tips to help prevent break-ins, fires, and water...

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Dealing with the death of a loved one is hard. Death of a loved one during festive holidays is even harder. But death of a loved one without the important insurance in place can put the rest of the family into a crisis....

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Attention high school students and their parents! College admissions trends have been changing significantly these past few years. Some may say the changes are for the better. However, the reality is college just got a...

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It’s an unfortunate fact that life expectancy in the US has dropped recently. This has led many people to examine whether or not they should have a life insurance policy and, if so, how much coverage they should have....

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It seems like every day on the news that we hear stories about a hurricane, flood, or wildfire creating massive damage in the U.S. and putting people out of their homes. Have you thought about how your family would...

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With the new car market impacted by shipping delays, many people are choosing to buy used cars lately. And some people only purchase a used vehicle because it saves them money and lets the first owner figure out if it’s...

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I’ve been helping students prepare for college for about 20 years. From what I’ve seen many families put way too much importance on getting straight A’s and/or taking AP classes (ironically good grades alone aren’t...

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Having a new puppy join your household can change your life. The snuggles and kisses make getting up in the middle of the night for potty breaks worth it, but in the whirlwind of change, it’s easy to forget some...

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As parents, I think it’s natural to wonder if our child is doing ok being away from home. It’s also natural to miss them and hope they miss us too. But ultimately we want them to be happy and successfully adjust to...

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Parents – can you hear the stress hidden behind the empty words “everything’s ok” whispered by your child? Or can you make out the indiscernible words barely breaking through the sobbing? Or perhaps it’s just silence......

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A security camera can help protect your property against intruders or provide evidence in the event of a break-in. But with all the technology available today, it can be tough to figure out which smart security camera...

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If you’re looking around for home or auto insurance, you may find the process confusing, especially if you’re new to buying coverage and aren’t familiar with the terminology. Here are five essential things you should...

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To all incoming college freshman, You’re no longer in high school. So that means if you were popular, smart, quiet, nerdy, the loner, or whatever in high school, that doesn’t mean that’s who you’ll be in college. You...

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Here is a short list of some of the most common mistakes I see parents make every year when it comes to their child’s college dreams. 1. RELYING SOLELY ON SAT/ACT TEST SCORES College admissions have changed -...

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Having the right kind of insurance in place is a vital part of your family’s financial protection. While insurance is usually not on the student-going-to-college checklist, it should be. Often times parents forget to...

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Grilling food is a fun pastime, and it’s ideal on those summer days when you don’t want to heat up the kitchen. But every year, there are accidents and home fires because people don’t grill safely. Follow these tips to...

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Sending your child to college is always a stressful time. Parents want what is best for their kids, but college is very expensive nowadays. Plus it’s getting harder to be admitted; even the State colleges are rejecting...

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No one likes the thought of having pests in their home, whether they be rodents, cockroaches, ants, or any other common household pests. If pest activity is common in your area, it is important to take steps to prevent...

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Should parents pay for their kid’s college? After a mortgage, the cost to attend college will be the next most expensive thing a family tries to pay off. The average annual cost for an in-state public school is a little...

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College admissions continues to become more competitive and complex each year. The Covid-pandemic has created even more chaos as students who took a gap year are now enrolling into colleges, often displacing the current...

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Why visit? - I cannot stress enough how important it is to take a college campus tour of a school your child is seriously interested in. While a tour seems like it would be a great experience, sometimes the opposite is...

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You've worked hard to create a beautiful garden for your yard, but there is more to yard maintenance than simply mowing the lawn and watering the plants. There are plenty of other tasks you'll need to complete in order...

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I’ve heard some parents say getting into college will be easier now that some schools are waiving the SAT and ACT scores. However, I found the opposite to be true. The admissions process is actually becoming murkier...

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In case you didn’t know it – college is expensive. Excruciatingly expensive. The average cost for an in-state public college is a little over $25,000 a year. Since most students no longer graduate in four years, but...

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Water damage is one of the worst problems that homeowners can run into. Not only can it be incredibly expensive to repair, depending on the extent of the damage, but it can also create the potential for mold and mildew...

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Spring is a common time for people to take on all of the cleaning tasks that they put off during the winter. With the weather getting warmer, it's the perfect time to tackle jobs both inside and outside your home. While...

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The costs associated with college continue to soar. Historically the price of college has outpaced inflation by over four times. Hence the amount of college debt taken on by a family has skyrocketed to unstable levels....

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All of us at MAC Insurance & Financial Services are feeling the impact of inflation, as we are sure you are too. Perhaps most notably we see inflation hitting the prices of gas and groceries. Prices of goods are...

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You may not give the windows on your home much thought, but they can actually make a big difference not just in your comfort level, but also in the value of your home. You'll have a wide range of options to choose from,...

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There are two online search engines that I really like. Both sites work similarly in that you will want to create a profile, which will be used to potentially match you with scholarships listed in their database. *Hint:...

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Throughout the month of February, the higher education community celebrates Financial Aid Awareness Month in an effort to provide crucial information to students and families about access to federal, state, and...

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Parents – here is my contrarian viewpoint to these sensational headlines: CNBC: Lawsuit claims 16 top colleges overcharged over 170,000 students by ‘hundreds of millions of dollars’New York Times: Lawsuit Says 16 Elite...

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If you're like most people, you like to keep your home at a comfortable temperature throughout the year. However, running your heater or air conditioner constantly uses a lot of energy, and your electric and gas bills...

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At MAC Insurance & Financial Services, we have received lots of inquiries about life insurance ever since the world was changed by COVID-19. After almost two years, we’ve compiled the five most common questions we...

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More than 1,000 homes have been destroyed by the Marshall Fire. While tragic and stressful, this should not cause a significant financial loss to any family properly insured. This is a great example of what your HOME...

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Today's modern appliances are much more energy-efficient than their predecessors, and some are even better than the rest. When shopping for appliances, you'll likely be overwhelmed by choice, so it is important to know...

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Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are essential for any home, so you should ensure that your house is equipped with them. You should have detectors in the main living areas on each floor, including in every bedroom...

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No one likes to think about the possibility of a fire in their home, but this is one situation where it definitely pays to be prepared. This is especially true if you have children or pets in your home. Read on to learn...

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Solar panels can provide clean electricity for your home, helping you to save money on energy costs while also doing your part to help the environment. However, not all homes are suited to solar energy. Here's what you...

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When it comes to buying insurance, you have two primary options available to you: independent agents like us, and captive agents. While both can provide insurance services, these two types of insurance agents are not...

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More and more people these days are choosing to add dash cams to their vehicles, and for good reason. These small cameras can be highly useful to you, especially in the event that you get a traffic ticket or are...

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Summer is here and people are flocking to the water — whether it’s the beach, a lake, a river or a backyard pool. But, wherever there’s water, there’s also danger. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and...

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In today’s digital world, slander and libel lawsuits are more common than you may think. Comments made in haste or anger on social media can have lasting and far-reaching effects on a person’s reputation or character,...

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Home improvement: It’s a never-ending process for many people, and for those of us who aren’t necessarily handy, it can be a hassle, too. But there are plenty of simple maintenance tasks and other improvements you can...

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Sometimes a basic homeowners policy just isn’t enough. So as your career advances and your income increases, it’s important to keep your insurance protection up to date. This helps you avoid expensive gaps in coverage...

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Shopping online. Visiting the doctor. Buying gas. In nearly all of the things we do from day to day, there’s the risk of identity theft. You could unknowingly give your information to a fraudster thinking you’re...

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To Whom it may concern, It is with excited reflection that I mention today is our 10 year anniversary with MAC Insurance & Financial Services, Inc in Englewood, CO. I am thankful to all of you for giving us the...

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If you have a homeowners insurance policy, you probably expect it to cover all the costs of rebuilding your house in case it’s damaged or destroyed by a covered hazard. But are you certain you have enough coverage? Read...

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It seems like a no-brainer to leave the lights on outside your home to deter burglars while you’re away (or even while you’re asleep). But does that really work? Or is it just a waste of electricity - particularly this...

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Unless you’re headed to a warmer climate for the winter - or you live in one already - fall is the time to start preparing your RV for winter (as long as you’re done using it for a while, that is). And just because you...

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Fall is a wonderful time - if your home is ready for it. So enjoy the last few weeks of warmer weather, but do a little preventative maintenance while you’re at it. You’ll fix small problems before they become big, and...

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We’re not quite sure where summer went, but if you haven’t noticed, the new school year is upon us. And as you get your kids organized and ready, consider doing the same thing for something else - your home. It won’t...

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What would you do without power tools? Well, you’d probably take on fewer home-improvement projects - and probably have a lot more calluses on your hands. Thankfully, you don’t have to do without. But you do have to use...

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It's amazing and frustrating how something so small could bring about such drastic and lasting changes to our society and lives. Given the fluid nature of the ongoing pandemic, lots of things can and will change as we...

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Water damage can be disastrous to your home. Imagine discovering that your entire basement is filled with brown water and sewage from a backed-up water main or other pipe. It’s not only disgusting and potentially...

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It doesn’t take a massive remodel, or a big budget, to make your house feel a little more like home to you. Inside or out, small improvements can make a significant difference - and whether you’re handy or not, you can...

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Congratulations! After weeks of research, comparing makes and models, and taking test drives you finally bought that brand-new car you wanted. But before you take that well-deserved road trip, check one more item off...

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A safe home, a regular routine, a soft bed – the things that bring you comfort bring your pet comfort, too. It’s so important to give some advance thought to how you’d handle your pet responsibilities during and after a...

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Let’s spare a moment for something most of us use every day yet probably take for granted: our service lines. We rely on them for access to water, electricity, gas, Internet connection, and more, but only think about...

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As a homeowner, it’s imperative to have your insurance coverage reviewed on a regular basis. This helps to ensure that your current coverage is up to date with the approximate costs of repairing or rebuilding your home...

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Carrying a minimum amount of auto insurance is required by state laws, so you can’t legally drive without it. Yet while the minimum amount keeps your premiums lower, it can also put you at great risk if you have an...

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So you have your eye on that cool new car you saw the other day? Before you buy, it's important to consider some things, and I briefly lay them out below. You may have heard that buying a brand new car can lower your...

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Every year, unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning (not linked to fires) sends 20,000 people to the emergency room and causes more than 4,000 hospitalizations. And, you might consider them the fortunate ones. CO...

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If you’ve ever been stuck on the side of the highway with an RV issue, you know what a life saver roadside assistance can be. Whether you need a battery charged, a tire changed, or a tow you’re often back on the road in...

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The collector car market evolves with each generation. While the Silent Generation started collecting cars, it was Baby Boomers who really got it rolling. They fell in love with the Chevrolet Bel Air, the Ford Mustang,...

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Decluttering is having a moment these days. Organizing guru Marie Kondo has her own show on Netflix, people everywhere are going through their things and asking, “Does this bring me joy?” and many are even exploring the...

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Fall is here, and there are still plenty of motorcycles on the road. And the key word here is “see.” People driving cars and trucks often fail to notice the motorcyclists around them, partly because they’re not...

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Group riding is a favorite activity among many motorcycle riders. Whether you’re part of a riding club, a social event, a charity ride, or out for a leisurely cruise with friends, group riding can be a rewarding way to...

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There’s perhaps no organizing task more daunting than the garage-it’s often the dumping ground for the stuff that has no other place in the house, or the things you don’t use but just can’t bring yourself to toss. How...

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Summer is here, which means it’s time to think about family vacations! (If you haven’t been thinking about them all year, that is.) The family part of family vacations, however, can make things a little complicated. You...

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With spring in full bloom and summer just on the horizon, prime boating season is upon us. And you might notice more people on the water than ever, because sales of recreational boats have been growing at a steady clip...

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April 22 marked the 49th annual Earth Day, when more than 1 billion people in nearly 200 countries were expected to take part in what the Earth Day Network calls “the largest civic-focused day of action in the world.”...

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Spring is a time for new beginnings, and cleaning and organization around the house are very popular this time of year. If you’re ready to tackle the monumental spring cleaning chore, read on for some helpful...

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Back in the early days of home security “systems,” around the end of World War I, it was common for homeowners to hire “door shakers”-night watchmen who would literally walk around and check doors to make sure they were...

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Whether it’s a gift from someone special or a gift to yourself, a new piece of jewelry can bring some sparkle to your life. However, many people who find themselves victimized by burglars—or a fire or some other...

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Drafty windows. Leaky faucets. Dirty air filters. All are common issues in homes across the country, and they’re not just annoying-they also cost you money in decreased energy efficiency and higher bills. The U.S....

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You’re not just imagining it—a lot of people are traveling with their pets these days. According to a TripAdvisor survey of more than 1,000 travelers, 53% of those responding said they take their pets on vacation, and...

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Owning a home is usually a great experience. But it can also be a hassle, especially when unexpected issues pop up-whether you have a minor breakdown or a major catastrophe, it’s almost certainly going to require time...

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Online data breaches are just an unfortunate fact of life now-as the New York Times put it, you might as well assume that your personal information has been taken, because cyberattacks happen all the time. That’s why we...

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For many of our neighbors, summer means more than sunshine and vacations. It also means working in the yard – often with tools that can be dangerous if not used properly. Each year about 400,000 people are treated for...

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Did you know that hundreds of thousands of people in the United States commute to work by bicycle, according to the U.S. Census Bureau? That’s a lot of cars off the road each day, a lot of gasoline saved and a ton of...

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You probably don’t think your dog would ever bite someone, let alone cause a serious injury. But dog bites are more common than you might realize-4.5 million occur every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for...

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Every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hundreds of people in the U.S. die from carbon-monoxide (CO) poisoning-and the invisible, odorless gas sickens thousands more. The numbers seem...

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