This past May 4th was my fifth consecutive year joining with my industry association, the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America, to share anecdotal stories about how legislation affects our clients. This was a somewhat memorable experience:it isn’t every day that you meet with […]
Publications
Noted and Quoted: The role of Insurance in small-business ownership
As Originally published in the Cape Cod Times: The role of Insurance in small-business ownership Question: I know I need insurance, but what kind and how much do I need? Answer: Risk management is a key ingredient in organizing your enterprise. If you […]
Using a car seat after an accident
Have you been in an accident before? Chances are, you’ve been in one or witnessed one. Accidents are scary and can cause serious injuries. How about with a small child in a car seat? It’s good to know what to expect, especially in terms […]
GAP Insurance
Your car will depreciate an average of 10% as soon as you drive it off the lot, but guess what won’t depreciate? Your loan! What happens if you crash it that day or even during that first year when it depreciates as much as […]
Is Traditional Long-Term Care Insurance Dead?
In my last article I discussed the escalating costs of nursing home and home health care. Now, I would like you to consider the question – Is traditional long-term care insurance dead? My answer is “No,” but there is a fairly new kid on […]
Are You Rolling the Dice?
With your Family’s Financial Future You’ve been working hard, you’re making a good income and paying off debt, you’re saving for the kid’s college and for retirement – You are the master of your ship – Life is pretty good. You are the […]
News from Falmouth – Accessory Apartment
After three long years of revamping the accessory apartment bylaw, the Town of Falmouth finally approved it during its 2017 Spring Town Meeting. This will help facilitate the town’s mission to create more housing without onerous permitting. So – what is an accessory Apartment […]
Noted & Quoted on The Institutes Community Blog
The premier insurance designation program, the Institutes, reached out to Peter recently to discuss fostering an educated workforce. The Institutes Community Blog published this article as a result. Original PDF
The biking season has already started!!
We already posted information about insurance coverage for your bike in the past. To fresh up your memories today and for the current biking season, we want to make sure you are aware of this: Take your bike and go on Cape Cod’s bike […]
A smart approach to insurance: Murray & MacDonald emphasizes risk analysis
As Originally published in the Cape & Plymouth Business Magazine: A-Smart-Approach-to-Insurance Over the past two decades, business has changed dramatically (consider email, mobile technology, and the sharing economy). But all too often, when it comes to insurance, businesses don’t keep up, and insurance policies don’t […]
Noted & Quoted: Climate change worries take backseat in hot real estate market
Peter connected recently with Jon Gorey for Jon’s Boston Globe Real Estate article Climate change worries take backseat in hot real estate market (original pdf) Here are a few excerpts: Raising a flood plain home is another possibility, said Peter MacDonald, vice president of sales and […]
14th Annual Cape Cod Children’s Museum Fundraising Bowl-a-Thon
Murray & MacDonald was part of the 14th Annual Cape Cod Children’s Museum Fundraising Bowl-a-Thon at The Lanes Bowl & Bistro, Mashpee Commons on March 9th. In total 17 teams competed in Children’s Museum Fundraising Bowl-a-Thon. The event included two heats of bowlers vying for the “Bankers Cup” […]
Noted & Quoted: Buying and renting out a vacation home for fun (and maybe profit)
Peter connected recently with Jon Gorey to discuss AirBNB and vacation homes in his article Buying and renting out a vacation home for fun (and maybe profit) (Original PDF) Here is anexcerpt: The Web is awash in Airbnb horror stories that could turn your daydream into a […]
Who will change my Lightbulbs?
One of the key questions of retirement planning Chances are if you have an answer to the “Lightbulb” question you are well on your way to navigating the many, many issues surrounding retirement and aging. There are millions of people in this country who are […]
SWIMMING POOLS: Homeowner considerations before diving in
Are you thinking of purchasing a swimming pool? regardless of whether it’s an in-ground, above-ground or inflatable pool, you need to make two phone calls prior to installing that pool. One call is to your local Town Building department and the other call is to your insurance agent. Swimming pools are generally […]
What you can learn from Startup Weekend – and apply to your business
I recently finished my second Startup Weekend on Cape Cod. We won third place with Kleenr. co. Last year my team won first place with Afterbook. Startup Weekend encourages entrepreneurship, and startup companies are important for innovation and job growth. Even if you do not […]
5 Reasons You May Need Life Insurance
1. Your parents co-signed your student loan You wanted to go to college, but you didn’t have the money and your parents didn’t either. After all, who has $30,000+ laying around to spend on tuition, room, board, books and fun? You took out a private […]
Happy Fall!
Third quarter has ended and the fourth quarter of the year is upon us. The onset & preparation of Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas is upon us and the New Year is around the corner. Do you have any fun fall traditions? Pumpkin picking, apple picking, […]
Great Enterprise from a Small Opportunity
On our facebook page today we posted the quote: “Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.” This was said by Demosthenes, an excellent Greek public speaker (384 BC-322 BC). He made a living as a lawyer, but he also wrote a few books […]
Can Raising Your Insurance Deductible Save You Money?
If you drive a car in Massachusetts, you are required to have insurance on your car. If you own a home and have a mortgage, you are required to have insurance on your home. To many people, insurance is a “necessary evil”, if you ask […]
Arbella in the Community – Here. For Good.
Douglas MacDonald, president of Murray & MacDonald Insurance Agency in Bourne, MA, is no stranger to charitable giving; he’s been deeply involved in making his community a better place since college. “I didn’t have much to give while I was in school, but I made […]
CIC – Certified Insurance Counselors
Twenty six years after earning his CIC, Douglas MacDonald watched as two of his children earned theirs as well. From Right: Sara Giguere with her child Anna, Dr. Hold, Peter MacDonald, Douglas MacDonald Peter was one month old when Douglas shook Dr. Hold’s hand […]
Long-term care
Have you considered the cost? Even though you might provide and believe in a particular financial product or service, it often isn’t until you have a personal experience with it that you have a full understanding of its benefits. In my case it was long-term […]
DriveWise and Snapshot: Dollars for Data
What if your car insurance rate was truly dependent on how well you drive? I’m not just talking about number of years without a traffic accident or speeding violation, I’m talking about a comprehensive report card and a driving score that is produced after every […]
Study Finds Hands-Free Devices Still Dangerous
In prior posts, we have highlighted the dangers of distracted driving and even hosted Arbella Insurance’s Distractology 101 Driving Simulator at our Bourne office to give drivers firsthand experience with the hazards that are endemic with distracted driving. This week, we bring another installment of […]