Annual Insurance Checkup Checklist

Most people set up insurance once and never look at it again — until something goes wrong. A better approach: a 15–30 minute annual checkup to make sure your coverage still matches your actual life. Here's the checklist.

The Annual Insurance Checkup (The Version You'll Actually Do)

Most people do insurance one of two ways:

Set it up once, never look at it again

Panic-review it only after something goes wrong

Neither is ideal. Here's the simple middle option: a once-a-year checkup that takes 15–30 minutes. Put it on your calendar and move on with your life.

Step 1: Did Your Life Change?

If any of these happened in the past year, your insurance probably needs a look:

New home or major renovation

New car

New driver (especially a teen)

Marriage, divorce, or new kids

New job, significant income change, or new assets

Bought a rental property

Started or expanded a business

Any of these can shift your exposure, your limits, or what policies you need.

Step 2: Do Your Limits Still Make Sense?

You don't need to be an expert. Just ask:

If something bad happened, would I be glad I chose these limits?

Or would I be mad at past-me for "saving $9/month?"

That second question is surprisingly effective.

Step 3: Quick Home Checklist

Is your dwelling limit still realistic for rebuild costs? (Not market value — replacement cost.)

Do you have replacement cost on contents (not actual cash value)?

Any valuables that should be scheduled separately? (Jewelry, art, collectibles)

Any big changes — new roof, solar panels, remodel, pool?

Step 4: Quick Auto Checklist

Any new vehicles added or removed?

Any new drivers in the household?

Liability limits still aligned with your assets and umbrella requirements?

If you have an umbrella, do your underlying auto and home limits meet the umbrella carrier's minimums?

Step 5: The Boring (But Important) Stuff

Your contact info is correct on all policies

Mortgagee and additional insured info is current

You can actually find your declarations pages (pro tip: save them in a cloud folder)

Beneficiary info is still accurate on life insurance and annuities

Key Takeaways

Do a 15–30 minute insurance review once a year. Put it on your calendar like a doctor's appointment.

Life changes = coverage changes. New home, new car, new driver, new income, new business — any of these should trigger a review.

Check your limits against your current life, not when you first set them up. Limits that made sense three years ago may not make sense today.

Make sure your underlying limits support your umbrella. If your auto or home liability is too low, your umbrella carrier may not pay a claim.

Keep your dec pages accessible. You need them for claims, reviews, and annual checkups.

My Favorite Way to Do This

Send me your declarations pages once a year and let me do the boring part. I'll tell you:

What looks solid

What changed

What I'd adjust (and why)

That's it. One email, one review, one less thing to worry about.

Zach Nadler is a 4th-generation insurance broker at Nadler Insurance in San Carlos, CA. Send me your dec pages for a free review →

Annual Insurance Checkup: A Simple Checklist to Run Every Year