Billyard Insurance Group
155 Lynden Road, Unit 4 N3R8A7 Brantford, ON, Canada

Do you know if parking tickets affect your insurance rate? Parking tickets are not moving violations and so they will not impact your premium. If you have unpaid parking tickets, you may not be able to renew your license, which may result in a license suspension. https://youtu.be/NbdKswb8Nms #thinkBIG #carinsurance

When it comes to cars, does size matter? The rate of fatal motor vehicle accidents has a direct relationship with the size of vehicle. Smaller vehicles saw a higher rate of fatal accidents in 2018 (57%) than SUVs (21%) and pickups (21%). This is because smaller/light vehicles have less structure to absorb energy from a crash, so the forces on the occupants are higher. People in smaller cars are also disadvantaged when in a collision with a larger vehicle. On the other hand, ...pickups and SUVs are more likely to be involved in fatal, single-vehicle crashes, especially rollovers, but overall occupant deaths less likely to occur in multi-vehicle crashes with SUVs and pickups. But are smaller cars less likely overall to be in an accident to begin with? According to a recent study in Ontario, 11.1% of all motor vehicle accidents were from small vehicles, and 12.1% of all motor vehicle accidents were large vehicles. Whichever type of vehicle you choose, you should always practice safe driving habits and have proper insurance coverage for your vehicle. If you aren’t sure about the coverage you have or are looking for a better price for auto insurance, contact a broker at the link in our bio for a no-obligation quote. #thinkBIG #carinsurance

If I claim something on my home insurance and choose not to replace it, do I still get a payout? When you purchase a policy, there are probably so many questions that come across your mind about how your carrier will handle claims. You never plan on having to file a claim, but it can give you peace of mind when you know how your insurance carrier handles claims when the unexpected happens. If the claim is covered by your policy, yes, you will still receive a payout. If you c...hoose not to replace the item, the amount you receive will differ based on the type of policy. A replacement value policy will pay out the actual (depreciated) value of the goods lost or damaged unless you can show proof of the true replacement cost with receipts. When you purchase new items, add them to your ongoing home inventory. Keep receipts and make copies of them and have a digital backup. Do you have more questions about your policy? A great part about shopping with BIG is that our brokers are here to answer all your questions! Get your questions answered by a BIG broker today. #thinkBIG #homeinsurance

Tutoring a student is one of the most rewarding jobs you could have! Preparing lessons and activities to help your students grow in learning and grasping new concepts is so fulfilling. Whether you do it full time, or as a supplementary income, you should know that you and your business are properly covered with private tutor insurance. Maybe you’ve never thought of the risks, but it’s important to find private tutor insurance that fits your unique business. Take a minute to learn about the insurance options for tutoring that can give you the peace of mind while you do what you love. https://www.thebig.ca/blog/title/private-tutor-insurance #thinkBIG #homebasedbusiness #homebusiness

We would like to introduce to you our charitable foundation, BIG Hearts, which raises financial support for vulnerable children in Canada. We believe that every child deserves a future full of hope and we want to raise money to make that possible whether it be feeding hungry young minds, helping kids with special needs develop greater independence, or providing care and connection for children needing a positive influence. In 2021 we have set a fundraising goal of $100...,000, and we are already a quarter of the way there thanks to many generous donors! If you would like partner with BIG Hearts to positively impact the lives and futures of vulnerable children across Canada, visit the link in bio to learn more to get started. https://www.thebig.ca//big-hearts-virtual-cocktail-fundrai #thinkBIG #giveBIG #thebighearts

The holiday season has arrived, and your holiday office party is coming up quickly! Your team has worked exceptionally hard, adapting to changes this year, so they deserve a little holiday party fun, even if it looks different. In this blog, we’ve combined some COVID-friendly holiday office party ideas for both in-person and virtual gatherings.https://www.thebig.ca/blog/title/holiday-office-party #thinkBIG #businessinsurance #holidayparty

Business owners greatly influence the culture of their business. Maybe you’ve started up a new business, or you’ve stepped into a senior leadership role and there are some things you’d change. Navigating a culture change at work takes time and patience. As you spearhead a culture shift at your business, remember employees usually need more time and support to get there because of the uncertainty it brings. Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare to adjust your wor...kplace culture. 1. Understand the current culture from the perspective of the employee BEFORE you change things. Be a listener and learner, build trust with your employee base before assessing and implementing changes. 2. Envision your new work culture. Write down specific details of your vision whether behavioural, environmental or physical. 3. Clearly communicate your vision and expectations. People will especially resist change when they do not understand why. Cast the vision so that your staff can see it will be worth it. 4. Accept the phases of changes. You will get pushback, so do your best to be compassionate and understanding in your approach. Leadership must be united in response to hold firm to the changes while being kind. 5. Celebrate the small successes, motivating your team to see the process through. 6. Talk to your insurance broker about changes you make (company size, changes in products, property renovations, etc.) While you envision change, think through the whole process before you begin. It can be draining and confusing to manage through a culture shift, so being prepared will keep you motivated to continue moving toward your vision. #thinkBIG #businessowners #cultureshift

Your first experience on a big highway can be intimidating and scary, but with this little guide to highway driving, you’ll be confident in no time! Do you remember your first time on the highway? Share your stories with us in the comments. For your first experience, pick a quieter time of day and low-traffic location. Also avoid poor weather conditions. Start off in the right lane to help maintain your speed and interact with traffic entering the highway.... Leave enough space for lane changes approximately 4 to 6 seconds of space around you. Check your mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes and use your turn signals. Keep a wide viewpoint looking further down the road and in your rear-view mirror to continually observe what’s around you. Keep calm and stay focused by putting all distractions away. Make sure you are properly insured on the vehicle you drive Keep practicing and with these tips and you’ll be on your way to being a confident highway driver! Stay safe on the roads and give us a call to talk about your insurance coverage. #thinkBIG #newdriver #gotmylicense

BIG is wishing you and your loved ones a Happy Diwali! #happydiwali #celebratediwali

If you've seen National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation or Home Alone, you likely have a sense of what could go wrong during the holiday season. While you put up your twinkly lights, decorate your Christmas tree, find the perfect gifts, and plan your (safe) holiday parties, enjoy the season worry-free by reviewing your property insurance policy and following these holiday decorating home safety tips on our latest blog. https://www.thebig.ca/blog/title/home-safety-tips #thinkBIG #holidayseason #holidaydecorations

If the instability of our current situation has taught us anything, it’s that we must be prepared for financial emergencies. We have no idea how long COVID-19 will continue to impact our jobs, our economy, and our lives, but no matter where you’re at, you CAN be financially prepared! Here are some goals to help you become financially secure in the days ahead. Pay off high-interest consumer debt ASAP. Talk to your bank about debt relief programs or look for a low-interest c...redit option that offers a balance transfer, making your debt more manageable. Find a low-interest option for borrowing such as a low-interest credit card or line of credit. Use this ONLY as an emergency safety net. Plan a crisis budget to know where you can cut back in hard times. You may have to adjust your lifestyle by prioritizing fixed expenses, savings second, and extra indulgences last. Get back on track with your savings ASAP. With the magic of compound interest, even saving a tiny amount of $25 per week can help soften the blow of unplanned expenses in the future. Remember your long-term plan for investments. The markets took a hit, but they will recover, so keep investing if it’s within your means to do so. You may also consider adjusting your risk tolerance. If you have questions about budgeting or investments, our financial team at BIG would be happy to help you get back on track with your financial plan! Visit our website or give us a call for more details. #financialadvice #financialliteracymonth #thinkBIG

If you’re a high-achieving and driven business owner, you’ve dedicated countless hours to make your dream business come true. But maybe you’re feeling exhausted, unmotivated and disconnected from your business and vision. Entrepreneur burnout doesn’t happen overnight, but many factors build up leading to chronic stress, fatigue, irritability, and depression, as well as physical symptoms like headaches and gastrointestinal issues and insomnia. So, what causes entrepreneur burn...out? Being online all the time, the demand of unrelated skills, the invisible workload that goes unacknowledged, being an over-achiever, always saying yes, commuting time. If this is you, you are NOT alone. These approaches can help you safeguard against burnout and also benefit you and your business in the long term: Create clear, healthy boundaries. Set an end-of-workday time, take effective breaks to refresh, delegate tasks to others, say no to things you cannot do (or don’t want to do!), minimize interaction with toxic people. Take care of your body, mind and soul. Get the right nutrition, drink enough water, be physically active, get enough sleep, practice mindfulness, meditation or prayer, connect with healthy relationships, find a creative outlet. Change your work mindset. Give yourself permission to slow down. Have reasonable work expectations. Set realistic goals and focus on your top 3 each day or week. Celebrate the small accomplishments. Take a vacation and REALLY unplug. Get help from a mental health professional if you need more help to identify triggers and strategies to recover. Share this post with your friends, family and business friends. So many people are unaware of the tolls work can take on our well-being. Let’s spread awareness before it’s too late. #businessinsurance #smallbusiness #thinkBIG

With winter comes wonderful things like snow, cozy socks and hot chocolate, but it also comes with severe weather and dangerous driving conditions. Here are some tips on preparing your car for winter to keep you and your family safe. Winter tires, while optional, can help you have better traction on the road and can also save you money on your car insurance! #thinkBIG #autoinsurance #carinsurance https://youtu.be/pDzoUSzT-WA