The Importance of a Strong Surety Bond Program Amid Market Uncertainties
By Eric Pratt In today’s volatile economic climate, a robust surety bond program has become indispensable for both owners and contractors. As the marketplace grapples with challenges such as tariffs, inflation, and price escalations, surety bonds provide a critical safety net, ensuring the smooth execution of construction projects and mitigating the risks that could otherwise […]
Why High-Value Homes Need the Right Coverage
By Tim Minkler For homeowners with properties valued at $1 million or more, a standard homeowners policy simply isn’t enough. High-value homes require a different level of coverage—one that accounts for the unique risks, high-end materials, and exceptional features that make these properties stand out. What Sets High-Value Home Insurance Apart? While standard policies cover […]
Do You Need Life Insurance? Here’s What to Consider
By Sharon Coe A common question I hear is: “Do I really need life insurance?” The answer is: it depends on your financial situation and what you want to protect. Life insurance provides a financial safety net for your loved ones, ensuring they’re covered if something happens to you. But the right type of policy—and […]
New Homeowners, Build Relationships With Local Tradespeople Before a Catastrophe Strikes
Regular maintenance and repairs are a big part of homeownership. Some tasks make great DIY projects, while others are less straightforward. Even with the best maintenance routines, you might have to make an insurance claim someday due to damage from a storm or another catastrophe. Reconstruction tasks can be complex and require specialized skills from […]
Summer Driving Hazards
Driving during the summer, especially over a holiday weekend, increases your odds of being in an accident. That’s because of the high volume of cars on the road, roadwork, impaired drivers and erratic driving behavior. Summer is also when teen drivers hit the roads in force. AAA refers to the 100 days between Memorial Day […]
Business Insurance Renewals Often Mean Changes to Terms
Commercial insurance rates are increasing on nearly every line of coverage, thanks to a rise in the frequency and severity of claims. And business owners are noticing significant premium hikes at policy renewal time. What might not be as apparent are: To protect your business interests, you need to know what questions to ask and […]
Needs Assessment Checklist – Employee Benefits Plan
Does your employee benefits plan give employees what they want? If you answered “no” or “I don’t know,” it’s time for a needs assessment. Here’s what you will need to get started. Focus groups Start with a list of employees from across your organization who represent a diverse selection of your workforce, including but not […]
Market Trends: Rising Home Insurance Rates
Home insurance prices fluctuate based on your home’s location, value, age, and construction materials. The national average for home insurance is around $2,614 per year for $250,000 in dwelling coverage, according to MoneyGeek. Rates have increased steadily in areas with extreme weather like floods, wildfires, tornadoes, or hurricanes. And with inflation driving up the cost […]
Health Screenings at Work
Your workforce is your company’s biggest strength. However, when that workforce isn’t as healthy as it could be, the organization suffers. Keeping your employees physically and emotionally healthy is a key part of keeping your organization strong. Unfortunately, sometimes a doctor’s appointment takes significant time out of the day. It can be particularly challenging for […]
Trends and Tips: Insuring Your Commercial Property During a Vacancy
Commercial property owners are struggling to balance a positive bottom line as tenant vacancies and insurance premiums increase. According to Moody’s Analytics’ Q4 2023 Preliminary Trend Announcement, commercial real estate (multifamily, office, retail, and industrial spaces) is in limbo. Their analysis revealed the following trends: In response to market fluctuations, some property owners have reduced […]
HR Systems Transformation: 6 Signs that It’s Time for An Upgrade
As an HR technology manager, it can be difficult to determine the optimal time to upgrade your company’s information systems and platforms. Here are six indicators that can help inform your decision-making. Anybody with experience in Human Capital Management (HCM) technology platforms is familiar with the trade-offs associated with a system upgrade. On the one […]
Sewer Backup Coverage for Homeowners
Homeowners: Let’s talk about sewer backup coverage We’re so happy that you have your homeowners policy with us, and we want to make sure you have all the coverage you need to keep your home safe and protected. Many people assume common catastrophes like sewer backups, earthquakes and floods are covered by their standard homeowners […]
Post-Pandemic Workforce Trends Could Lead to Liability
Getting people to return to the office, or work at all, has become a major headache for U.S. businesses. Strategies like offering remote work, hiring less qualified workers, and keeping older workers on staff carry liability risks you must consider. Remote work About 38% of employers required workers to come into the office full time […]
The Future of the Workforce: 8 Key HR Trends to Watch in 2024
A new year is here, bringing new trends and areas of focus for HR professionals. According to a recent article by SHRM, talent, economic and supply chain issues are expected to continue, while myriad political views will take center stage during this election year. HR leaders must navigate a rapidly changing landscape while keeping their […]
Prevent Freezing Pipes in Extreme Cold
It’s that time of year again: cold snap season. Plumbing systems can freeze when temperatures take a sudden nosedive past the freezing mark, or 32 F. And when water freezes and expands within a pipe, the pipe can burst. Here are some tips to protect your plumbing during extreme cold: Turn one faucet to a […]
Why Is Your Deductible So High?
As we move past the emergency phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s tough to predict how much health care costs will increase. But one thing most experts agree on is that costs will indeed go up, anywhere between 4% to 10%. Prescription drug spending is also expected to rise. Rising health care costs Health care […]
What Is a Non-Admitted Carrier and When Might You Use One?
Getting insurance can be challenging if you have an unusual risk, a lot of risk or a hefty claims history. These “hard-to-place” risks are difficult to insure using standard insurance, also known as admitted carrier markets. Hard-to-place risk Admitted carriers typically gravitate toward predictable risk with considerable data to back it up. This helps them […]
Hire Better: Recruiting Tips for 2024
The turn of the calendar from one year into another is as good a time as any to review your HR processes, and recruiting is no different. Here are a few considerations to strengthen your recruiting efforts in the new year. We know that some vacancies are unexpected, but there also may be some that […]
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) – Frequently Asked Questions by Employers
Employees may contribute to an HSA only if they are enrolled in an HSA-qualified high deductible health plan (HDHP) and have no disqualifying coverage. Our Compliance team has compiled a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and responses to make offering and administering HSAs as easy as possible. 1. How do I know if the […]
Are Your Holiday Gifts Safe for Children?
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports toy-related injuries led to 206,400 emergency room visits in 2021. Most of them involved children 12 and younger. To enjoy this year’s holiday gifts worry-free, educate yourself about the dangers of toys and how to keep your kids safe. Common toy-related injuries According to The Emergency Center, an independent […]
5 Before-Work Strategies To Improve Your Workday
Your morning sets the tone for the rest of your day. To achieve a positive, productive effort at work, it helps to maximize your time before you clock in. Try these five strategies to establish a routine that jump-starts your morning and builds momentum for a better day: Make time Rushing to get ready starts […]
How to Craft an Effective Open Enrollment Communication Plan
Approaching the open enrollment period with a strong communication game will benefit you, your employees, and your business. People don’t appreciate what they don’t understand, and insurance tends to top the list. Every human resources and benefits administration professional knows that it’s challenging to engage employees in the open enrollment process. Benefit plans are riddled […]
Avoid Surprise Hikes to Your Medicare Premiums
Nobody wants to be surprised by higher premiums — especially in retirement. With Medicare Part B and Part D, there are strategies that may help you avoid increased monthly payments. The issue Most people receive Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) for free. But monthly premiums apply to every individual with Medicare Part B (medical insurance) […]
The Need for HR During Economic Uncertainty
In times of economic uncertainty, companies often cope with financial challenges by cutting budgets and HR operations. However, these cost-cutting measures often don’t solve the problem companies hope to resolve. Instead, these measures often lead to reduced employee engagement and high turnover, ultimately resulting in increased expenses. We recognize the importance of talent and HR […]