Every holiday my family asks about insurance, and my go-to answer is a personal umbrella policy. It’s affordable excess liability insurance that sits over your auto and home to protect savings—and future wages—when big claims happen. You don’t need to be “rich” to need one; teen drivers, dog bites, pool accidents, and multi-car crashes can exceed base limits fast. And if available, ask for excess uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) to protect your own household from underinsured drivers.

Government shutdown causing an NFIP lapse? Learn how this affects new flood policies, what FEMA map revisions mean, the 45-day lender notice, the one-day newly-mapped waiting period, and how private flood insurance can keep your closing—and coverage—on track.