One of the reasons you talk with your local independent insurance agent is to get straight answers about the information in your insurance policy. Policies are written the way they are to specifically describe what is and isn’t covered. We have legal experts on staff here at Hastings Mutual for...Full story

While it might be an exaggeration to say you’re used to the way you have to operate your company these days, you can at least acknowledge that the way your business works is different than it was before the pandemic. Changes are often very challenging. The last thing you probably...Full story

It’s easy to do so much online today, and in the pandemic, you never even have to leave your house if you order your meals and household supplies on the internet. If you have children, they’re probably online a lot too. Maybe they’re getting ready for the new school year...Full story

I recently bought a car — maybe an odd thing to do right now since I don’t need to drive it too often. But the old one had high mileage and some damage to the exterior. It was time for an upgrade. I bought a silver car, but while I...Full story

The Hastings Mutual Insurance Company Charitable Foundation recognizes the contributions of nonprofit organizations in the communities we serve. Each month, we’ll honor one of those organizations as our Nonprofit of the Month.

Summer camp, for many boys and girls, is something to look forward to all year. This year, of course,...Full story

We offer coverage for crimes where your business is the victim, specifically financial crimes that affect your company’s bottom line. Our crime-pak coverage makes security its focus. It features protection for:

• Credit, debit, or charge card forgery
• Employee dishonesty
• Extortion
• Forgery or alteration
• Money and securities
• Money orders and counterfeit paper currency

I know, extortion or counterfeit...Full story

Unless you’re in the business, you probably don’t think about funeral homes until you need one. It’s a significant industry, though, with more than 19,000 funeral homes in the U.S. employing more than 110,000 people. Like many other types of business, funeral homes need reliable insurance protection. It’s available with Hastings...Full story

The weather has been great in many parts of the country, including here in our six-state region. Thanks to the hard work of thousands of farm workers, grocery store shelves and farm market tables have stayed full of good food, even during the pandemic. They offer fruit and vegetables, meat and...Full story

Here’s something you don’t want to think about: advertising. There’s a reason TV streaming services let you skip commercials after a few seconds. Ads can be annoying, and they’re certainly not what you’re looking for when you’re on the internet, watching TV, or flipping through a magazine.

On the other hand… everyone...Full story

The weather is right for spending days outside, heading to the beach or hiking trail, or simply visiting with friends — safely. It’s also time to get your house in shape.

What tasks have you been meaning to work on in and around your home?

Keeping Cool

• Reverse fan blades...Full story

My father is retired but he’s not just sitting around. He’s on his computer every day, paying attention to the world around him — finance, the news, all the things he’s interested in. My mother is paying attention too, and checks in with her Facebook friends, including me, almost every day....Full story

Kira Hudson of Indiana told her story to the Indianapolis Star newspaper about an incident that happened to her in 2005. She was arguing with her boyfriend on the other end of her phone as she drove her SUV down a deserted road. The argument was intense, more important than where...Full story

Here’s something you didn’t expect a few months ago: that you would be spending April and most of May at home, talking with other people in person as little as possible. You might be getting back to your regular routine these days, but you’re staying prepared for another shutdown, another...Full story

Here in Michigan, some industries were finally allowed back to work through May and now into June, like construction, manufacturing, and lawn care. Others, of course, were always working, such as restaurants, grocery stores, and, of course, hospitals. Everyone here at Hastings Mutual was working too, though many of our...Full story

It is the busy season for greenhouses — especially this year, as people start shopping for plants and seeds to get in the soil after two months of waiting. But it’s a business that comes with a lot of risk: you have to keep living things alive while making sure...Full story