For families across the country, fall means one thing: back to school.

There’s no shortage of to-dos for parents, from last-minute shopping for school supplies to scheduling required doctor’s check-ups. But many parents don’t take the time to factor risk management and insurance into their back-to-school planning.

This gap presents agents and brokers with a unique opportunity to serve as a trusted adviser for their clients. Whether your clients’ kids are headed to middle school, high school or college, take the time to discuss back-to-school risks—particularly those related to online exposures.

Not Your Average Risk

You likely already talk to your clients about risks and insurance needs when a child heads off to college. You have plenty to explain about the way property coverage works for the new tablet or PC they got as a graduation gift, or how liability coverage could respond to an accident in the off-campus housing they rented.

But conversations with your clients about the risks their children face should actually begin much sooner than high school graduation—perhaps as soon as your clients’ children get online.

Students of all ages now have more access to technology and social media than ever before, making them the most connected generation. While social media certainly has its advantages—more freedom of expression, faster exchange of information—it also presents unique risks, and an opportunity for you to help parents consider additional protective measures.

For example, identity thieves frequently target children because theft can go undetected for years until the child is ready to start using their credit. Remind your customers to coach children about limiting the amount of personal info they provide online. You can also help them choose policies that provide coverage for identity theft resolution or fraudulent charges. And many insurance companies provide resolution services to help customers clean up problems related to identity theft.

Online harassment is also on the rise and can lead to dire consequences for victims. Your clients may also want to consider cyberbullying coverage, which can help provide for psychiatric care, private tutoring, public relations assistance, digital forensic analysts to help prosecute perpetrators and more.

Finally, social media-related liability risk extends beyond cyberbullying to also include libel and defamation. For example, if a student gets a bad grade on a test and leverages social media or a third-party review website to shame a teacher, the student could be sued for libel or defamation of character.

Surviving the Slippery Slope

To start the school year right for students of any age, agents and brokers should:

• Talk with clients about their evolving risk profiles to help them see beyond the most common back-to-school risks.
• Encourage parents to have an open, and honest conversation about social media best practices with their kids. Go above and beyond by providing parents with resources, including information about bullying and cybersecurity.
• Review clients’ insurance policies and determine whether they need any adjustments. Start by examining whether students are still covered by their parents’ insurance, even if they live away from home or if they only attend school part-time. Additionally, check whether clients have sufficient liability coverage that will protect their student, assets and livelihood in the event of a lawsuit.

These days, client consultations must go beyond protecting the house and car and consider a wider array of risks, including online exposures. The back-to-school season is a great time to start the conversation with your clients about how best to protect their kids, whether they are living at home or attending school elsewhere. By educating parents about their evolving risk profile, agents and brokers not only take a burden off their clients’ shoulders and serve as a trusted resource, but also help clients protect their most prized possession: their children.

Christie Alderman is vice president of Chubb Personal Risk Services.