How To Update Your Business Insurance

What Large Companies Do To Lower Costs That Any Company Can Do

As we continue on our journey to a better understanding of insurance, we thought it would be informative to identify some risk management “best practices” of larger companies. We believe that many of these “best practices” can, and should, be discussed with businesses of all sizes.

The good news is that these generally don’t create additional costs to the company; in fact, they usually reduce costs!

Insurance & Risk Best Practices

1. Big Companies View Their Broker/Agent As A Trusted Advisor. The best way to accomplish this is to not bid insurance, but rather select an agent based on qualifications and the best fit with the goals of the business.
2. Consider Modifying The Insurance Program With The Swings In The “Market”. For example, during a soft market you are able to lower deductibles and broaden coverage. As the market cycles up, you are able the increase deductibles to offset premium increases.
3. Develop Cyber Breach Procedures. Small to medium sized businesses have a greater chance of having a cyber-breach than they do of having a fire. Here is an excellent resource from Experian
4. Wellness Has Become A Norm. According to an article in the St. Louis Business Journal, “employee absenteeism is reduced when wellness programs are implemented”. In a study by Prudential Insurance, disability days were 20 percent lower and disability-per-capita costs were 32 percent lower, after implementing a wellness program. In addition, annual medical costs fell by 46 percent.
5. Human Resources Is Part Of The Management Team. As the workforce gets older, finding ways to attract younger employees will be important. Developing new nontraditional compensation formulas and work hour flexibility will help attract and retain top performers. Develop an employee handbook and keep it updated. Educate and train all employees.
6. Separation of Accounting Duties. A recent report issued by The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, places the cost of employee fraud at 7% of annual revenues. Companies with less than 50 employees saw a median loss of $50,000. Separate check writing and depositing responsibilities, and have an annual audit by a qualified firm.

This information is intended for the client, individual or entity to which it is addressed. These articles contain concepts and opinions, and are not intended to represent the consensus of the insurance or risk community, nor to provide professional legal or tax advice.  Please seek professional legal or tax counsel before making any decisions.  The information provided does not change or modify any insurance policy, only the actual terms of the in-force policies will govern claim settlements.

Good Reasons To Consider Workers’ Compensation

Good Reasons To Consider Workers’ Compensation

If your company has employees, you may be required to buy workers’ compensation insurance. Some states do allow people to opt out of the system if they can prove financial responsibility, but that is only in two or three states in the entire country. If you have employees, you are most likely required to carry workers’ compensation.

One question we often get asked is, what is an employee? An employee can be a full-time or part-time person, working on behalf of the company. Temporary and seasonal staff can also be defined as employees. Many people seem to think that just because someone isn’t a full-time employee, they don’t need to have workers’ compensation coverage. Not true. Under all these cases you are required to have workers’ compensation insurance.

The way you pay your employee does not impact whether or not they are considered an employee. You can 1099 somebody and have him, or her withhold his or her own taxes, and you are still required to carry workers’ compensation coverage on that person. Don’t confuse tax laws and workers’ compensation laws. These laws and statutes are entirely unrelated.

Here are a few additional tests to determine the employer/employee relationship:

• Do you control the workplace?
• If the person takes direction from ownership or management, they are employees.
• Do you supervise them?
• Is their time controlled (lunch, breaks, etc.)?

What about independent contractors?

An independent contractor is someone who owns their own business, so they control their own working hours. They manage how they get the job done. They are the people to which you give a project, they return a completed project, and they are usually completely unsupervised by you. So, if you have someone who fits into this definition, you probably don’t need to carry workers’ compensation coverage on that person.  However, it is always a good idea to call is to help you review each situation.

This information is intended for the client, individual or entity to which it is addressed. These articles contain concepts and opinions, and are not intended to represent the consensus of the insurance or risk community, nor to provide professional legal or tax advice.  Please seek professional legal or tax counsel before making any decisions.  The information provided does not change or modify any insurance policy, only the actual terms of the in-force policies will govern claim settlements.

Is Your Business Hiring This Summer?

Many businesses today offer college students the opportunity to hold a summer intern position. These can be rewarding for the college student as well as provide some help to the business. Offering paid or non-paid internships can create risk for your business. We wanted to highlight some of the business risks associated with having interns. Before you bring that person on board, make sure your business is well prepared.

You should have a written plan. It should include a job description, hours, and line of authority.

Check to see if there are any state regulations that might be impacted.

If you offer a paid internship, you will need to treat the intern like any other employee. We suggest having a formal agreement indemnifying the terms of the agreement, including the time period of the internship.

If the internship is a paid position, don’t forget about workers’ compensation.

Make sure you comply with Healthcare Reform relating to employee benefits.

Make sure the intern understands they are not entitled to “regular” company benefits, i.e.  retirement, insurance, vacation, etc.

The internship must provide similar training that would be given in an educational environment.

There must be a “true” benefit for the intern.

The internship cannot be for the sole benefit of the company.

The intern must not replace regular employees, and should work under the close supervision of existing staff.

Unpaid internships for for-profit companies are subject to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Fair Labor Standards Act. There are provisions if you offer educational credit. Here is a link to the U.S. Department of Labor.

We recommend you check with the department of labor to make sure your program meets all of the requirements. There have been many businesses who have been sued as a result of improper internship programs.

This information is intended for the client, individual or entity to which it is addressed. These articles contain concepts and opinions, and are not intended to represent the consensus of the insurance or risk community, nor to provide professional legal or tax advice.  Please seek professional legal or tax counsel before making any decisions.  The information provided does not change or modify any insurance policy, only the actual terms of the in-force policies will govern claim settlements.

We Can Help Your Business Survive an Interruption

A Business Insurance Update

Have you considered the cost to you if your business had to shut down for a week, month, or even longer?  We have, and we can offer a few tips to help your business continue even in the midst of a shut down.

A business can be shut down for a number of reasons. Your business or commercial insurance policy will cover the cost to repair or rebuild your building, and replace business property.  But are you protected if it takes time to re-open? Business Interruption Insurance keeps you financially stable during the period that you are forced to vacate.  You can continue to provide your employees with pay, and manage bills during the period in which the business cannot operate.

When considering business income, you also need to determine if you have certain risks that would require specific limits within the overall coverage. If these are not managed correctly, you may suffer a loss and not have enough insurance to ensure your recovery.

Business Income Insurance

• Peak Season – If your business has seasonal income, you will want to adjust your policy accordingly. Don’t just average your income out over 12 months; that may not be adequate coverage.
• Period of Recovery – When you consider your recovery time, (the amount of time to fully resume operations) you may need to take into account any special construction needs. For example, you may have unique equipment that will take several months to design and construct. Knowing this will help you design your coverage to meet your needs.
• Payroll coverage–Under this coverage, you can select who you want to offer payroll continuation to. However, you must do this prior to the loss.  You can also add categories of workers and even managers.

At Roussel Insurance we strive for trust and reliability with our clients. Through our 32 years in the insurance business we have learned to achieve immediate and sustainable cost savings for businesses and individuals. We can help find you the right insurance options, so that no matter what your budget is we can minimize you’re spending and easily meet your needs.

This information is intended for the client, individual or entity to which it is addressed. These articles contain concepts and opinions, and are not intended to represent the consensus of the insurance or risk community, nor to provide professional legal or tax advice.  Please seek professional legal or tax counsel before making any decisions.  The information provided does not change or modify any insurance policy, only the actual terms of the in-force policies will govern claim settlements.

Cyber Security Prevention Tips

If your business stores or controls any kind of personal customer information, you have a cyber liability risk. Even if you don’t store customer information electronically, you still have a risk of identity theft. The insurance industry has a key role to play in helping U.S. companies strengthen cybersecurity, a senior Treasury Department official said Thursday.

More than 40 percent of small businesses don’t have an adequate IT security budget, according to a November 2014 survey by the Ponemon Institute.  According to a 2014 study by the National Cyber Security Alliance, 60% of small businesses close their doors within six months of a data breach. A data or cyber breach can not only cost a business money, but also their reputation.

Top Breaches For Small Businesses

1. Third-Party Breeches.
2. Employee misuse of information.
3. Socially engineered trojans- An end-user browses to a usually trusted website, which prompts him or her to run a trojan. Most of the time the website is a legitimate, innocent victim, whose website has been temporarily compromised by hackers.

Cyber Liability Prevention Tips

• Outsource credit card handling with a reputable vendor.
• Use more complex passwords with a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Here is an example (MP#09xT28S%).
• Don’t save passwords on your computer.
• Question your internet security at every level, including email. It may be time to encrypt all emails.
• Use the latest security software.
• Do not allow laptops to leave the office without proper security.
• Train your employees on cybersecurity.
• Do not use an open network.

Cyber Insurance

We can provide your firm with the right combination of pricing and coverage. Cyber risk insurance is available at very reasonable premiums. Many of our companies offer coverage to help protect your business from loss.

At Roussel Insurance we strive for trust and reliability with our clients. Through our 32 years in the insurance business we have learned to achieve immediate and sustainable cost savings for businesses and individuals. We can help find you the right insurance options, so that no matter what your budget is we can minimize you’re spending and easily meet your needs.

This information is intended for the client, individual or entity to which it is addressed. These articles contain concepts and opinions, and are not intended to represent the consensus of the insurance or risk community, nor to provide professional legal or tax advice.  Please seek professional legal or tax counsel before making any decisions.  The information provided does not change or modify any insurance policy, only the actual terms of the in-force policies will govern claim settlements.

Insurance for Green Businesses

Business Insurance

Businesses across the country are seeing the advantages of having a green-friendly business.  Having environmentally friendly buildings and manufacturing processes can help sustain your business and build a positive reputation in the community.

Reasons to Consider a Green Business

• Increases your business’s public image
• Cost savings on insurance
• Tax credits
• Healthier workplace
• Consumer demand
• Can reduce waste and decrease costs

Most standard commercial insurance policies will offer to repair or replace damaged equipment with like kind and quality.  If your business wants to replace broken equipment with environmentally friendly material, your policy may have to be modified.

There are endorsements that can be added to your commercial property policy that addresses this issue.  According to the Insurance Information Institute, a green endorsement on your commercial property insurance will cover the higher cost of environmentally certified materials and equipment, even if your original property and equipment were not green certified.  It can also cover costs for green design and engineering, recycling, certification fees and other costs.

If your business has solar energy equipment or other green features, we recommend a complete insurance review. Roussel Insurance & Financial Services is a recognized leader in the insurance industry. We offer highly competitive insurance rates for both business owners and individual services. With 32 years of experience, we continue to offer our clients exceptional service.

This information is intended for the client, individual or entity to which it is addressed. These articles contain concepts and opinions, and are not intended to represent the consensus of the insurance or risk community, nor to provide professional legal or tax advice.  Please seek professional legal or tax counsel before making any decisions.  The information provided does not change or modify any insurance policy, only the actual terms of the in-force policies will govern claim settlements.

Rethinking Business Insurance

Common Mistakes Made When Purchasing Business Insurance

Over the years, we have seen well-intentioned insurance and risk products buyers make decisions that, while they may appear to help the organization, actually hurt it in the end.  Here is a list of top mistakes that uninformed insurance buyers often make.  We provide it to you in the hope that you can learn from the errors of others.

Top mistakes made by uninformed insurance buyers:

“Bidding-Out My Insurance Is the Best Way to Get the Best Program.”

False.  Most insurance buyers have the false belief that getting three bids from three different agents is the best way to make sure they are getting the best “deal.”  This is like asking a builder to provide a bid without seeing the building plans.  When talking to your agent about your insurance issues, give the agent the full set of “plans,” including losses and premiums, financial data, and policies.  Utilizing the services of one agent whom you can trust will lead to reducing short-term and long-term costs.  Comparing multiple factors, including terms, conditions, and premiums is crucial, as even the best-priced policy can fall short in areas.

“Two Agents Are Better Than One.”

False.  Your agent can provide valuable services including educating you about what coverage you need and may not need.  Your agent can search the market for the best possible combination of coverage, price, and service.  Having two agents can create gaps or coverage issues.  It is best to allow one agent to understand your business thoroughly and then design a business insurance program specifically for you.

“I Don’t Need to Have a Relationship With My Agent.”

False.  Many buyers have a false belief that the agent’s only function is to place coverage and administer insurance.  Your broker/agent should be offering much more than that.  Your broker should be a trusted adviser who helps you identify risk factors, and develops solutions that help you to manage these issues.

“My Policy Covers All Losses.”

False.  Your business insurance policy is intended to cover unexpected losses and accidents subject to the policy terms.  There are limitations and exclusions in every policy.

“I Don’t Need to Consider Different Kinds of Coverage.”

Every business should consider the following kinds of business insurance products.

-Business income

-Employment practices liability

-Cyber risk

-Key man life

-Commercial umbrella

-Products liability

 At Roussel Insurance we strive for trust and reliability with our clients. Through our 32 years in the insurance business we have learned to achieve immediate and sustainable cost savings for businesses and individuals. We can help find you the right insurance options, so that no matter what your budget is we can minimize you’re spending and easily meet your needs. To learn more about us and what we offer, make sure you browse through our personal and business services. Lastly, do not miss our blog page! All our blogs are informative, so we can help make insurance more understandable.

This information is intended for the client, individual or entity to which it is addressed. These articles contain concepts and opinions, and are not intended to represent the consensus of the insurance or risk community, nor to provide professional legal or tax advice.  Please seek professional legal or tax counsel before making any decisions.  The information provided does not change or modify any insurance policy, only the actual terms of the in-force policies will govern claim settlements.

Property Insurance For Your Business

A Business Insurance Update

Every business owns property, and you may also own the building in which you run your operations. Property insurance protects the physical assets your nonprofit owns – such as computers, office equipment, buildings, furniture, fixtures, and other property.

Every business should have a property insurance coverage to respond to the many risks associated with property ownership. Property policies offer many unique coverages, some of which we have highlighted:

Building Coverage – allows you to quickly rebuild or repair buildings or other property damaged by fire, theft, natural disaster or other events, allowing you to return to normal operations.
Business Personal Property Coverage – covers costs to replace the contents in your building if they are stolen or destroyed by a covered unforeseen event.
Business Income Coverage – provides for continued income or lost revenues while the building and its contents are being rebuilt and replaced. Business income helps you to cover operating and ordinary payroll expenses needed to keep an organization operating after a loss, usually for a specific time.
Fine Arts Coverage – includes loss or damage to artwork or sculptures housed in your building.
Building Ordinance Coverage – covers the increased cost to comply with building codes, ordinances or laws that have changed after your building was originally constructed. For example, under new building codes, your structure may be required to have a sprinkler system, which will increase construction costs.
Outdoor Signs and Property Coverage – covers costs to replace outdoor fences, signs, trees, shrubs or plants.
Equipment Breakdown Coverage – includes loss due to failure or breakdown of equipment such as boilers, heating systems, and electrical machinery.
Computer Coverage – covers costs to replace or repair damaged hardware, software, data or media vital to your operations.
Back-up of Sewer – covers costs to repair or replace items damaged by back-up or overflow of a sewer or drain.
Earthquake Coverage – provides insurance to repair or replace damaged equipment and buildings resulting from an earthquake. Earthquake coverage is typically excluded under most property policies.

Roussel Insurance & Financial Services is a recognized leader in the insurance industry. We offer highly competitive insurance rates for both business owners and individual services. With 32 years of experience, we continue to offer our clients exceptional service.

This information is intended for the client, individual or entity to which it is addressed. These articles contain concepts and opinions, and are not intended to represent the consensus of the insurance or risk community, nor to provide professional legal or tax advice.  Please seek professional legal or tax counsel before making any decisions.  The information provided does not change or modify any insurance policy, only the actual terms of the in-force policies will govern claim settlements.

Your Business May Be Exposed

A Business Insurance Update

Insurance coverage is available for almost every conceivable risk your business might face. Cost and amount of coverage of policies vary among insurers. The right insurance policies will go a long way toward helping you safeguard your earning power and your future. If you are a business owner there are a few insurance products you may not have considered.

Business Income or Loss of Rents

Depending on what you do with your building, may depend on the specific kind of insurance you need. If you own a building and have tenants you will want to consider loss of rents coverage. This coverage usually includes reimbursement for loss of rent or rental value in case of fire or other serious incidents covered by insurance. Business Income coverage increases a business’ ability to survive a substantial loss. If your business suffers a fire, that stops all operations for three months, the business will want to continue to pay salaries, utilities, rent and other fixed costs necessary for operations. In order for the business to become whole, the business is entitled to reimbursement for net income and operating expenses paid during the recovery period.

Data Breach or Cyber Liability

If your business stores sensitive or non-public information about employees or clients on your computers, servers or in paper files you are responsible for protecting that information.  If a breach occurs either electronically or from a paper file a data breach policy will provide protection against the loss.

Umbrella

Standard business liability coverage will take care of you in most situations, but when serious situations arise, commercial umbrella insurance will help ensure that your business is protected. Here are two examples:

• You have a serious fire and are involved in multiple lawsuits that exhaust your primary limits.
• Your delivery truck is involved in an accident with multiple deaths or injuries.

At Roussel Insurance we strive for trust and reliability with our clients. Through our 32 years in the insurance business we have learned to achieve immediate and sustainable cost savings for businesses and individuals. We can help find you the right insurance options, so that no matter what your budget is we can minimize you’re spending and easily meet your needs.

This information is intended for the client, individual or entity to which it is addressed. These articles contain concepts and opinions, and are not intended to represent the consensus of the insurance or risk community, nor to provide professional legal or tax advice.  Please seek professional legal or tax counsel before making any decisions.  The information provided does not change or modify any insurance policy, only the actual terms of the in-force policies will govern claim settlements.

Your Business May Be Exposed

A Business Insurance Update

Insurance coverage is available for almost every conceivable risk your business might face. Cost and amount of coverage of policies vary among insurers. The right insurance policies will go a long way toward helping you safeguard your earning power and your future. If you are a business owner there are a few insurance products you may not have considered.

Business Income or Loss of Rents

Depending on what you do with your building, may depend on the specific kind of insurance you need. If you own a building and have tenants you will want to consider loss of rents coverage. This coverage usually includes reimbursement for loss of rent or rental value in case of fire or other serious incidents covered by insurance. Business Income coverage increases a business’ ability to survive a substantial loss. If your business suffers a fire, that stops all operations for three months, the business will want to continue to pay salaries, utilities, rent and other fixed costs necessary for operations. In order for the business to become whole, the business is entitled to reimbursement for net income and operating expenses paid during the recovery period.

Data Breach or Cyber Liability

If your business stores sensitive or non-public information about employees or clients on your computers, servers or in paper files you are responsible for protecting that information. If a breach occurs either electronically or from a paper file a data breach policy will provide protection against the loss.

Umbrella

Standard business liability coverage will take care of you in most situations, but when serious situations arise, commercial umbrella insurance will help ensure that your business is protected. Here are two examples:

• You have a serious fire and are involved in multiple lawsuits that exhaust your primary limits.
• Your delivery truck is involved in an accident with multiple deaths or injuries.

At Roussel Insurance we strive for trust and reliability with our clients. Through our 32 years in the insurance business, we have learned to achieve immediate and sustainable cost savings for businesses and individuals. We can help find you the right insurance options so that no matter what your budget is we can minimize you’re spending and easily meet your needs.

This information is intended for the client, individual or entity to which it is addressed. These articles contain concepts and opinions, and are not intended to represent the consensus of the insurance or risk community, nor to provide professional legal or tax advice.  Please seek professional legal or tax counsel before making any decisions.  The information provided does not change or modify any insurance policy, only the actual terms of the in-force policies will govern claim settlements.