February 22 – 26 is America Saves Week, an initiative of the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), that has been celebrated annually for the past 14 years. The CFA works to help people save by encouraging them to take a closer look at their finances and saving habits.

Throughout my years in fire service, I have worked many winter seasons as a firefighter and seen the impact of home fires firsthand. While the winter season brings an increase in utilizing fireplaces to heat your home, it also brings an increase in fatal home fires. Unfortunately, from November 2019 through the end of February 2020, 33 Tennesseans lost their lives in accidental residential structure fires. The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s office asks that you continue to be fire aware to ensure your family is safe through the winter season.

Captive insurance companies have found a receptive home in Tennessee - beginning in 1978, as one of the first states to adopt captive legislation, to 2011 when our state’s leaders modernized the state’s captive laws. Tennessee is experiencing exceptional growth due to these prior and continued efforts. Before updating our captive legislation, Tennessee had licensed only two captive insurance companies. Since then, and as of December 2020, Tennessee has licensed 211 captive insurance companies and 489 cell captives – for a total of 700 risk bearing entities. The growth of the captive insurance industry remains a priority for Governor Lee and Commissioner Lawrence – ensuring a bright future for Tennessee as a captive insurance domicile. From an economic impact perspective, Tennessee has written over $6.4 billion in premium and collected over $16 million in taxes and fees. The captive insurance sector has an estimated economic impact in Tennessee of $31 million in direct annual spending and continues to project growth.

Throughout my years in fire service, I have worked many holidays as a firefighter and seen the impact of winter holiday home fires firsthand. From Thanksgiving to New Years, it’s time to enjoy our favorite holiday traditions and make new memories. While the holiday season brings an increase in decorating with lights, fireworks and CDC recommended appropriate gatherings, the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s office asks that you continue to be fire aware.

Created in 1951, The Tennessee Real Estate Commission is part of the Department of Commerce and Insurance and licenses, registers and regulates a variety of professionals from real estate brokers to rental location agents. The Commission also enacts rules addressing professional conduct and standards of practice in order to carry out our mission to protect the public through the establishment and administration of minimum requirements for licensees, effective professional education of licensees and enforcement of professional conduct.

Ten years ago, Nashville and the surrounding areas were devastated by a flood whose magnitude will never be forgotten. As the floodwaters invaded Nashville, took lives and damaged property and public infrastructure, we all watched with immense disbelief and sadness. As the floodwaters receded, we pulled together, volunteered to help each other and helped the city recover. This year has brought a series of tornadoes and a derecho across Tennessee simultaneous with the spread of COVID-19, a massive derecho in Iowa and Hurricane Laura in the gulf. We have yet again faced unbelievable sadness and devastation nationwide. As we always do, I know that Tennesseans and all Americans will pull together, overcome and move forward in the aftermath of immense devastation.

When a loved one passes away – likely the last thing on your mind is finances. However, that doesn’t mean families shouldn’t do what they can now to plan for the future and protect those they love most. All types of insurance are intended to protect you from unlikely outcomes that would have an outsized financial impact if they occurred such as auto insurance for a car accident.

After much consideration and deep appreciation, I announce my departure as Director of the Tennessee Captive Insurance Section. It has been a tremendous honor to help build a successful captive domicile in Tennessee, and I could not be more pleased that Belinda Fortman will continue to lead Tennessee to the next level of success.

June 28th is National Insurance Awareness Day. We observe this day each year to serve as a reminder to review your insurance policies, assess your risks, and make sure individuals and businesses have the coverage they need.

This month is Older Americans Month. Tennessee’s elderly are invaluable members of our communities, deserving our utmost appreciation, and attention. During Older Americans Month, we pause to draw upon the knowledge and experience older adults bring to our families, our communities, and Tennesseans as a whole. During the COVID-19 pandemic we can overcome through the determination of Tennessee’s most experienced individuals who have overcome a diverse range of America’s historically challenging times.

“Get Alarmed, Tennessee” is an in-home fire safety education and smoke alarm installation campaign implemented in November 2012 by the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s office. As of May 12th, 2020, we are thrilled to announce that 300 Tennessee lives have been saved through our statewide campaign of installing smoke alarms. According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), smoke alarms provide an early warning of a fire, giving people additional escape time. In 2012-2016, smoke alarms were present in three-quarters of American homes (74%) and sounded in more than half (53%) of the home fires reported by U.S. fire departments. Three of every five home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with zero smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Therefore, having functioning smoke alarms in your home cuts your chances of perishing in a fire by half.

Ten years ago, Nashville and the surrounding areas were devastated by a flood whose magnitude will never be forgotten. As the floodwaters invaded Nashville, took lives, and damaged property and public infrastructure, we all watched with immense disbelief and sadness. Immediately following that, we pulled together, volunteered to help each other, and helped the city recover. With the recent series of tornadoes across Tennessee simultaneous with the spread of the global COVID-19 pandemic, we have again faced unbelievable sadness and devastation, but it seems that there is truly nothing that Tennesseans cannot face and eventually overcome.

I am sure that at the top of everyone’s mind right now is the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our lives. It feels like, in some ways, that our day-to-day routines have been brought to a grinding halt. However, with each day that passes, we realize that we are finding different ways to carry out our duties.