Marcus Ellery
Auto, home, and life insurance — how coverage actually works and what it should cost
Hartford, CT
Marcus Ellery spent 12 years as an independent insurance agent before he got tired of the upsell and started writing coverage guides from the buyer's side. He covers auto, home, and life insurance for PolicyNest — what each policy actually does, what it should cost, and where people quietly overpay. Based in Hartford, the old capital of the U.S. insurance industry.
What Marcus covers
- Auto coverage types and how much you actually need
- Homeowners/renters coverage and the exclusions that surprise people
- Term vs permanent life and estimating a coverage amount
- Reading a quote and spotting the padding
- How claims really get paid — and denied
Articles by Marcus
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Full Coverage vs Liability Only: When Each Makes Sense in 2025
Full coverage protects your car; liability only covers others. Here's the real cost difference, when to drop full coverage, and how to decide which fits your car.
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How Much Car Insurance Do I Really Need? A Buyer's Guide
State minimums are cheap but risky. Here's what car insurance actually protects, what it costs, and how to choose coverage without panic-buying.
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How Much Home Insurance Do I Need? Calculate Your Coverage
Calculate the right dwelling coverage for your home using rebuild costs, not market value. Stop overpaying—or underinsuring—with this plain-English guide.
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How Much Life Insurance Do I Need? 3 Ways to Calculate Coverage
Calculate your life insurance need using income replacement, needs-based, or human-life-value methods. Real coverage ranges and when formulas break down.
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Term vs Whole Life Insurance: Which One Do You Actually Need?
Term is cheaper and simpler; whole life is permanent and expensive. Real cost ranges, trade-offs, and when each makes sense—no sales pitch.
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What Does Homeowners Insurance Not Cover? Exclusions Explained
Standard homeowners insurance excludes flood, earthquake, sewer backup, and gradual damage. Here's what your HO-3 policy won't pay for and when you need extra coverage.