Insurance Insights: The Cleary Insurance Blog

The Cleary Insurance blog covers insurance, risk management, and financial planning for New England businesses and individuals. Our team of licensed advisors and specialists publishes regular articles on commercial and personal coverage, employee benefits, life and financial planning, and insurance compliance. Browse recent articles below, or use the category filters to find topics relevant to your business or personal situation.

Home Maintenance Tips for Spring

April 3, 2026/in News, Personal/by Carol LaCombe

By Travelers Risk Control

The milder days of spring are a perfect time to do a thorough spring cleaning and perform home maintenance. After a long winter, it is a good idea to take preventive measures to help maintain your home and property year-round. Tasks such as cleaning out your gutters, checking for dead trees and branches, and cleaning and inspecting home mechanical and plumbing systems, such as heating and air conditioning equipment, can help make spring a season of safety.

Somebody should do the cleaning and maintenance of your home, both inside and out. Although the tasks are different, checking whether all the elements of your home are in good working order can help keep your family safe and your maintenance expenses lower in the long run.

Home maintenance inside your home

Here are a few things inside your home that somebody should inspect to determine if they are in good condition:

Electrical outlets and cords: Check throughout your home for potential fire hazards, such as frayed wires or loose-fitting plugs. Extension cords and power strips are not intended to be permanent fixtures and should be used only temporarily.
Fire extinguishers: Check your fire extinguisher at least once yearly, including the hose, nozzle, and other parts, to ensure they are in good condition and that the pressure gauge is in the “green” range. Check the expiration date. If necessary, move your fire extinguisher to an accessible location so you can reach it easily in an emergency.
Air conditioning: Check around the unit for indications of leaks. Before turning it on for the season, have your air-conditioning system inspected and tuned up by a professional. Check the drain lines annually and clean them if they are clogged. Change the air filter.
Water heater: Check for leaks and corrosion. Check your owner’s manual for any recommended maintenance.
Furnace or boiler: Have your furnace or boiler cleaned or inspected annually.
Under sinks and around toilets: Look for any signs of leaks or corrosion on pipes, supply lines, and fixtures.
Plumbing: Check exposed pipes and valves in your basement or crawl spaces, if safely accessible, for signs of leaking or corrosion.
Appliances: Check supply lines for washing machines, ice makers and water dispensers, refrigerators, and dishwashers for signs of leaks or wear and tear.
Plumbing for hose spigots and irrigation systems: After opening outdoor water supply valves, be sure to inspect components for leaks. Don’t forget to check inside plumbing as well as outdoor spigots.
Dryers: Dryer lint can build up inside the vent pipe and collect around the duct. Clean both the clothes dryer exhaust duct and the space under the dryer. Use a brush to clean out the vent pipe. Look for lint buildup around the lint trap and clean it as needed
Smoke detectors: Daylight savings time is a good time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Inspect each smoke detector to ensure they are in working order, and test them monthly. Ideally, there should be at least one smoke detector on each floor of your home, including outside of each bedroom, and one within each bedroom itself.
Light bulbs: Check each light bulb in every fixture to ensure the recommended wattage and replace any burned-out bulbs.

Home maintenance outside your home

The cold winter months can also damage your house. Here are a few things outside your home that should be inspected to ensure they are in good condition:

Roof: Check for any damage from snow or ice, and make any necessary repairs to reduce the possibility of leaks. If you have a skylight, check outside for a buildup of leaves and debris. Also, check the indoor ceiling for signs of leaks. Remember to put safety first any time you are on a roof. If you have any doubt, leave it to the professionals.
Gutters: Clean leaves and other debris from gutters and downspouts to keep water flowing and reduce the possibility of water damage.
Trees: Visually inspect trees for damage or rot, and remove (consider hiring a licensed professional) any dead trees that might blow over in heavy winds or during a storm. Keep healthy trees and bushes trimmed and away from utility wires.
Lawn equipment: Make sure lawn mowers, tractors, and other equipment are tuned up before using. Store oil and gas for lawn equipment and tools in a vented, locked area.
Walkways and driveways: Repair any cracks and broken or uneven surfaces to provide a safer, level walking area.

A little home maintenance in the spring can go a long way toward keeping your home safe and secure throughout the rest of the year. Learn more about Travelers homeowners insurance products, or if you’re ready to take the next step, get a quote from us!

Spring Risk Check: 5 Things Every Business Should Inspect

April 3, 2026/in Commercial, News/by Carol LaCombe

As winter transitions to spring, conducting thorough spring risk checks becomes crucial for business owners. The end of winter presents an excellent opportunity to assess one’s property and operations for potential damage or safety hazards arising from snow accumulation, ice buildup, and freezing temperatures. This is particularly important following an extreme winter season, where the potential for damage increases significantly.

During this inspection, business owners should carefully examine the property for signs of structural damage, such as roof leaks or weakened infrastructure from the weight of snow and ice. It’s also vital to evaluate outdoor areas for potential hazards, such as icy walkways or unstable parking lots.

Additionally, reviewing operational equipment for any weather-related impairments—such as machinery exposed to freezing conditions—can help prevent malfunctions that could lead to costly repairs or downtime. Implementing a proactive seasonal inspection strategy not only helps in minimizing the risk of costly claims but also promotes a safer work environment for employees and customers alike. By addressing these issues promptly, business owners can ensure a smooth transition into the warmer months while protecting their investment and their workforce.

1. Roofs and Gutters
Look for missing shingles, leaks, or clogged gutters that could lead to water damage.

2. Parking Lots and Walkways
Repair cracks, potholes, or uneven surfaces to reduce slip-and-fall risks.

3. Exterior Lighting
Ensure parking areas, walkways, and entrances are well-lit and safe.

4. Equipment and Vehicles
Schedule maintenance for machinery and commercial vehicles affected by winter conditions.

5. Safety Procedures
Review workplace safety practices and confirm your insurance coverage still fits your operations.

Spring risk checks can go a long way in protecting your employees, customers, and business from preventable risks.

Retirement Planning For Young Adults

January 22, 2026/in Financial Services, News/by Carol LaCombe

By: Matthew Clayson, Financial Advisor at Commonwealth Financial Group

Retirement savings are not on most young adults’ list of top priorities.

In fact, according to one survey, only about 1 in 5 members of Generation Z (born after 1997) are saving for retirement. And that’s a missed opportunity for the other four.

That’s because the earlier you start on a retirement plan, the better off you are likely to be when it’s time to actually retire.

Despite your current expenses, it is not too early to consider retirement planning. And there are some steps you can take to start saving right away that don’t involve eating Ramen noodles every night.

Budget

With so many expenses stretching their budgets, many young people starting out may feel like they can’t afford to save for retirement. But a budget that prioritizes savings can help you take a closer look at your recurring and nonrecurring expenses each month to set aside a reasonable amount.

And the first step in prioritizing savings? Take a look at the retirement plans available to you.

Retirement plan types

401(k): Some retirement savings accounts offer good tax advantages and investment opportunities. In fact, many employers offer programs like 401(k)s that contribute to the plans on your behalf. This is a retirement plan that you can start investing in right away.

Contributing to a 401(k) account has three distinct advantages:

You will receive an immediate tax break because your contributions come out of your paycheck before taxes are withheld.
If your employer matches a portion of your contributions, you are essentially getting free money to invest. These plans commonly involve an employer matching between 50 percent to 100 percent of your contributions, up to a certain threshold.
You also have the opportunity for tax-deferred growth for most of these plans. This means that you will not be required to pay taxes each year on capital gains, dividends, or other yield distributions. However, when you withdraw your money from the account, you will typically owe income taxes on the amount withdrawn, and if withdrawals are made before you are aged 59 ½, a 10 percent additional tax may apply.

IRA: A traditional IRA is a tax-deferred retirement savings account. This means that you only pay taxes when you take the money out at retirement. The advantage here is that you do not need to pay taxes on any of the dividends, compound interest payments or capital gains you earned over the years until you withdraw your money. However, any amount you withdraw before age 59 ½ will typically subject you to income taxes and a 10 percent additional tax.

You may also have heard about Roth IRAs. The difference between the two is that traditional IRA contributions are state and federal income tax deductible for every year you contribute, but you pay income taxes when you withdraw at retirement age.

Roth IRAs are not tax-deductible, but like traditional IRAs any growth is not taxed. Unlike traditional IRAs, however, your withdrawals at retirement age are not taxed.

You can learn more about IRAs here or you may opt to consult a financial professional to learn more about the benefits of a Roth IRA versus a traditional IRA for your own situation.

Investment portfolio: In addition to retirement plans, you may want to invest for long-range goals like buying a house or other major asset. This would mean setting up your own portfolio holding investments based on stocks, bonds, or other types of assets.

Remember, different investment vehicles come with different expenses and charges as well as risks.

That is why you may want to look at investments like index funds and mutual funds or even annuities with low expense ratios across a wide range of asset classes for diversification.

Retirement savings: How much?

There is no cookie-cutter answer. It depends on your goals, lifestyle, cost of living and various other factors. But one way to help is to use this retirement calculator to get a better idea of what you are up against with your retirement savings.

15 percent: One rule of thumb is to save 15 percent per year. According to a research paper from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, people who consistently saved 15 percent of their income per year were better positioned to meet their retirement planning goals.¹ For instance, if you saved that amount on a $50,000 salary for 35 years, you may have somewhere around $1.5 million saved.
8 times: Another rule is to save roughly 8 times your final salary. For instance, if your ending salary is $75,000, you may want to save around $600,000. This is an amount that may be within reach of your retirement savings plans.
80 percent: A third common rule is to replace at least 80 percent of your pre-retirement income, which is the average income over roughly the last 10 years leading up to retirement. You may want to use this retirement savings calculator to estimate how much pre-retirement income you will need to put aside. Seventy percent is an estimate, but the point is that retirement can be expensive. So that number may be a good place to start in order to maintain your standard of living.

Regardless of which savings target you choose, the important point for younger workers is to get a program in place early.

Retirement and financial priorities

Retirement saving is difficult when so many other financial issues seem to have priority. Student loan debt, life circumstances, and family obligations are just some of the financial factors you may contend with. Saving, let alone investing, may not seem feasible as you try to make ends meet.

But not saving early for retirement may put you at risk of having to retire later than you want or under less-than-ideal circumstances. That may not seem unreasonable, but with potential factors like health problems, getting laid off, or various other issues beyond your control, you may be forced out of the workforce before you have enough saved to retire ― at least not as comfortably as you intended.

This is particularly important because, according to the CDC, the average life span in the U.S. is approaching 80 years. That may leave you with 15, 25, or even 30 years of retirement.

While retirement is still decades away for younger workers and adults, it’s never too soon to consider it, especially if you plan on having children soon. It may also be time to consider other options that go along with retirement, like life insurance, long-term care insurance, annuities, or disability income insurance, to name a few.

So, while it is important to consider retirement, the suitability of saving varies from person to person. The tips mentioned above are just some ways to start saving. But that’s why some people opt to consult a financial professional to help assess their assets.

To be sure, this advice comes from an insurance provider. But it doesn’t change the general wisdom of considering the feasibility of saving for retirement in your 20s and 30s.

About the Author

Matthew Clayson is a Financial Advisor at Commonwealth Financial Group. He is a registered principal of, and offers investment advisory and financial planning services through, MML Investors Services, LLC, Member SIPC (www.sipc.org).