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Be honest!  Did you make any New Year’s resolutions this year?  If you did, you weren’t alone.  According to Statistic Brain, 45% of Americans “usually” make New Year’s resolutions, and according to Constant Contact®, 53% make business-related resolutions. 

Statistic Brain found that losing weight is the number one New Year’s resolution for 2014 – no surprise there.  And number two?  The second most popular resolution for 2014 is – drum roll please - getting organized.  Now if losing weight is on your list, there are many other organizations more suited to helping you than an insurance company (unless you want to know how weight could possibly affect your life insurance premiums).  However, a good insurance agent can help get your business organized.

Getting organized isn’t just about “A place for everything, everything in its place,” as Benjamin Franklin said.  It’s also about having everything you need so your business can run smoothly and profitably.  The right business insurance can help your business do just that - and protect it by minimizing financial risks associated with unexpected events.

Commercial Liability Insurance

First, you should consider liability insurance to protect your company’s assets in the event that someone gets hurt on your property or you (or one of your employees) cause property damage or injury.  Even if you doubt you’ll ever face a claim, we live in a litigious society; purchasing liability insurance is a wise and affordable investment.  There are a wide variety of commercial liability insurance options such as general liability insurance, product liability insurance, and error and omission insurance. 

Commercial Property Insurance

Commercial Property Insurance is another insurance to consider.  It covers everything related to the loss or damage of company property due to events such as fire, windstorm and hail, smoke damage, vandalism, theft, and more. “Property” may include lost income, business interruption, and company papers, as well as equipment and buildings.

Commercial Vehicle Insurance

If you use a vehicle – whether you own it or not – for any purpose other than driving to and from work, you should check your existing insurance policy to see if you need a commercial vehicle policy.  Standard vehicle insurance coverage includes bodily injury and property damage liability, personal injury protection, and physical damage to your vehicle including comprehensive and collision coverage. 

Worker's Compensation Insurance

Worker’s Compensation Insurance is mandatory in most states (including Pennsylvania), and covers employees for work-related injuries.  A typical "workers comp" insurance policy pays lost wages and medical expenses incurred due to a work-related accident and protects the employer against accident-related lawsuits.  

Business Umbrella Insurance

Finally, umbrella liability insurance is a type of commercial insurance that covers a small business for liability claims that exceed the underlying limits of liability coverage.  Umbrella policies are a type of commercial insurance that adds an extra layer of public liability insurance protection.  

Now is a Great Time to Review Your Business Insurance Needs

Whether “getting organized” is on your list of 2014 New Year’s resolutions or not, now is a great time to review your insurance policies to ensure that you have the right coverage to protect your business and allow it to run smoothly.  AIG would be very happy to help you with this resolution.  Contact us at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848 to arrange a policy evaluation.  Then you can sit back and enjoy your well-ordered office space, knowing that it’s protected.

Unfortunately, you’ll have to call someone else if you want help losing weight!

Workers' Compensation Insurance and Minimum Wage Increases

Everyone earning minimum wage or paying minimum wage is surely paying attention to discussions in Washington and state capitols across the country about increasing federal and state minimum wage. This is great news for those currently earning minimum wage ($14,500 a year for a full-time employee), but business owners are perhaps a little less enthusiastic at the prospect. Not only does a required increase in salaries cost more in wages, it also has the potential to cost more in workers' compensation payouts.

For or Against Minimum Wage? It's Still the Law

We all know the arguments for and against increasing the minimum wage. Whichever side you agree with, if the law changes, you need to be prepared to roll with it. If you are an employer, look on the positive side - you will be able to retain experienced workers longer, and you will have a larger (and hopefully better quality) pool of applicants to choose from,  since people who have been unemployed will now have more incentive to put their kids in daycare and drive to work for you.

Minimum Wage Down Side - For Every Silver Lining, There's Got to be a Cloud!

The drawback to people coming back to work after a long break is that newly rehired workers are more likely to get injured while they're getting back into the swing of things. Many minimum wage jobs are also the most physically demanding. Your new workers may be out of shape and just not in the "safety first" mind-frame anymore. New hires may also be afraid to make an injury claim right away, so a simple muscle strain can turn into a major issue requiring expensive surgery.

The major argument against increases in the minimum wage is the prospect of layoffs. Current employees afraid of getting laid off, either out of desperation or the urge for a little revenge, tend to make more workers' comp claims to give themselves more of a cushion while they seek new work. Spikes in claims like these can make insurance underwriters rather unhappy.

Protect yourself! Who else is going to? (Oh yeah, your insurance company!)

The best way to protect your company from these changes is to keep the lines of communication open with your insurance provider.  If they insure your workers' comp claims, they also have a stake in keeping claims as low as possible.  Also, be proactive with new recruits with drug testing, background checks, safety training, and pre-employment physicals.

Need Help Making Workers' Compensation Insurance Decisions?

We can help you keep your workers’ compensation insurance premiums and claims in line – regardless of pending changes to the minimum wage.  Call us today at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848 or Contact Us by email.

The Washington Post reported in April that federal workers compensation costs have roughly doubled since 1995, with 8.8 million Americans receiving disability benefits to the tune of $260 billion per year. Over a quarter $ trillion annually - that's a trully staggering figure.

The Post went on to claim that much of the increase may be due to the changing demographics of an aging population. Whether you buy that explanation or not, many employers fear that some employees are cheating on workers compensation insurance and staying away from work longer than legitimately needed.

Workers Comp 101: How Much Should You Trust Your Employees?

Let's face it, as with almost everything in life, things are seldom black and white. Seemingly good and honest employees sometimes do dishonest things when they feel threatened or insecure. Workers compensation can be an area where a good employee is tempted to stretch the limits of a workers compensation insurance package if your internal company policies are not balanced in such a way as to help keep the system honest and balanced.

Incentives and Disincentives to Return to Work: How Do Your Workers Comp Policies Stack Up?

Many view our national unemployment policies as lacking the common sense checks and balances required to filter out waste and abuse. Fair enough, but have you analyzed your own policies by the same yardstick? A well-balanced set of policies is one that properly provides for the needs of employees during a disability while also achieving the checks and balances that keep the system honest by removing disincentives to return to work, and removing incentives to stay out longer than legitimately needed. And that insurance principle applies as much for a small business as for a larger one.

Here are some things to consider when striving to keep your workers compensation policies properly balanced:

• How long will you hold a job open while an employee is out on disability? Is there a defined limit? Obviously a reasonable but limited time period should be the goal. In today's job market, fewer are willing to gamble with finding a new job should they exceed the period that their current position will be kept open for them.
  
  
• What percentage of an employee's salary is collected during a workers compensation event? If your policies are too generous then the incentive to stay off longer increases.
  
  
• Do you allow benefits to accrue while an employee is away from work? For example, will sick time and vacation time continue to accrue? If so, should the policy be changed?
  
  
• What about high-end benefits? If you offer special benefits such as a company car or other benefits directly related performing on the job, then consider placing them on hold until the employee returns to work.

A Workers Compensation Lesson from Ronald Reagan?

Regardless of your politics, President Ronald Reagan had a principle that served the US well in dealing with foreign policy, and one that President Barack Obama recently quoted: trust but verify. Yes, we would like to trust all employees to do the right thing when it comes to workers compensation insurance benefits. However, given that things are rarely black and white when it comes to human behavior, it is wise to craft your company polices in such a way as to verify that your hard-earned dollars spent on workers compensation costs are being wisely used and not wasted.

Need Help with Workers Compensation Insurance? 

We're here to help. We're an independent insurance agency with the resources to find the right workers comp insurance to meet your needs and budget. Click to contact us today to learn more, or call us at (800) 947-1270 or (610) 775-3848.

Considering the millions of dollars spent daily on TV commercials for single-brand insurance offerings, you would think that the independent insurance agent is a thing of the past. It's tough to go an hour on TV without seeing at least one commercial for AllState, Nationwide, GEICO, State Farm, or other single brand ("captive") insurance solution. That's because with few exceptions, only the big brands can afford to run national TV ads.

Bigger May Not be Better When it Comes to Insurance

Most people realize that big budget advertising does not necessarily equate with the best solution for all kinds of things in life. That's why, for example, many people avoid the pay-per-click ads found on search engines and instead click on the unpaid search results: they seek a high-quality answer to their search instead of one paid for by the competitor with the deepest pockets. In plain English, they don't want to be "spun" by the marketing machines behind the ads.

Let's apply the same thinking to an independent insurance agent vs. the mega-brands. Here are 4 reasons why an independent agent is likely to provide a superior personal or business insurance solution to satisfy your needs.

#1. Your Needs are Unique and Your Insurance Policy Should Fully Meet Your Needs

Insurance is complicated. It is difficult, if not impossible, for those outside the insurance industry to understand all the insurance options for meeting their needs. Only an independent insurance agent understands the pros and cons of each insurance company and their policy offerings as it pertains to protecting you against your unique combination of risks and liabilities.

#2. Independent Insurance Agents are a Valuable Advocate, and They Cost You Nothing

Your independent insurance agent will check multiple companies and insurance solutions in detail to arrive at the best combination of value, price, and insurance protection to properly and fully address your individual or business insurance needs. That can be very time-consuming, but that service typically costs you nothing.

#3. Your Independent Agent is a Single Source for All Your Insurance Needs

Insurance companies typically handle only certain types of insurance. However, your independent insurance agent handles insurance from multiple companies, thereby covering virtually any need, including business insurance, homeowners and car insurance, boat, RV, and motorcycle insurance, life and health insurance, umbrella insurance, pet and vacation insurance, workers compensation insurance, disability insurance, and virtually every kind of liability insurance to protect any type of business need. Being a single source with access to multiple insurance companies and solutions, your agent can create the best blend of policies to provide the right protection with minimal overlap and waste between and among your insurance policies.

#4. Unparalled Service

When you have an insurance question or need, your independent agent is there for you. You are not relegated to a faceless, nameless individual connected to an 800 number. Instead, you have the comfort and confidence of dealing with someone who you know, like, and trust for all your insurance needs. Think about it. Doesn't that kind of service and flexibility mean more to you than putting yourself in the hands of someone you don't know, and who offers only one solution or brand? 

We're Independent Insurance Agents, and We're Ready to Serve You

At American Insuring Group we pride ourselves in helping our customers not only save on insurance, but also in finding the right insurance protection. We'll put together a plan that will meet your needs, and we'll review your needs on a regular basis to see if it may be time to adjust your insurance to meet your changing needs, or to take advantage of better pricing that may become available as your needs change. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Too Busy to Assess Your Risk?

Many small business owners are so busy these days that they have little time to slow down and properly analyze their risks and business insurance needs.  And it’s no wonder. Small businesses from Reading PA in Berks County, to Philadelphia, Allentown, Lancaster, and all across the nation drive a significant portion of the country’s economic growth. However, they tend to be lean, which means the typical small business owner is wearing many hats and putting in long hours. Many are too busy to take the time to properly analyze risks, and to obtain adequate insurance protection to address the risks of their growing businesses.

Just How Big Can a Small Business Be?

Statistics available from the US Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov) indicate that small businesses employ more private sector personnel than mid-sized and large businesses combined.  In the US, small businesses are generally defined as manufacturing businesses with less than 250 employees, and non-manufacturing companies with under $7 million in annual receipts.

Engines of Economic Growth 

Small businesses are the engines of private sector economic growth, creating approximately 2/3 of new non-government jobs while generating over 40% of the private payroll in the US. Small businesses account for a similar proportion of total US high-tech jobs as well.

Questions Small Business Owners Must Ask to Determine Risk and the Right Level of Business Insurance Protection

Regardless of how busy you may be, busyness is no excuse for ignoring risks that could sink your business.  Here is a brief list of questions every business owner should answer as a first step in assessing risk and the need for stronger insurance protection:

• Disability Insurance:
  Who will run my business if I become disabled permanently or for an extended period? Will my company have the financial resources to pull through this type of crisis?
  
  
• Life Insurance:
  If I die will my business survive? Will my employees all lose their jobs? Will my family be able to keep our house and maintain a good lifestyle?
  
  
• Key Person Insurance:
  What if a person who is vital to my business dies or becomes permanently disabled? Will my business have the financial resources to survive until a new person can be found, hired and fully trained, or will it set me back several years?
  
  
• Workers Compensation Insurance:
  Are my employees properly classified for workers compensation insurance? Could my business survive a workers compensation insurance audit without undergoing major penalties for misclassifying employees? Is my workers compensation insurance coverage fully up to date to reflect my changing business needs and the expanded types of positions my employees currently hold?
  
  
• Property Insurance and Business Interruption Insurance:
  Are my buildings, equipment, and other business property insured against the full range of potential risks? In the event of a claim that disrupts my cash flow for a prolonged period, will I receive compensation for the loss of income during that time, or merely for the cost of the damage to my business property?
  
  
• Professional Liability Insurance:
  Am I covered if an employee were to cause harm to a customer or to their business, and a court found it to be due to negligence? How vulnerable is my business to various types of lawsuits?

Be Smart – Be Informed on Business Insurance

Our staff can properly address these and other business insurance questions. We’re a Trusted Choice independent insurance agency. That means we offer a range of business insurance plans from competing insurance companies. We’re well positioned to find the right business insurance coverage at a significant savings.

Contact us today at 610-775-3848, or click to Contact Us online.

Yes, Workers Compensation Insurance Can be Costly, but Don't Cheat

Providing workers compensation insurance for employees can be a significant expense, especially in industries prone to serious injuries, such as those requiring heavy or potentially dangerous machinery.  While some employers may be tempted to misclassify workers as independent contractors rather than as employees in order to avoid worker’s comp insurance and other costs, the penalties for misclassifying employees as independent contractors can be severe.

IRS Guidelines for Determining Independent Contractor Status

According to the IRS:

You are not an independent contractor if you perform services that can be controlled by an employer (what will be done and how it will be done). This applies even if you are given freedom of action. What matters is that the employer has the legal right to control the details of how the services are performed.  

Consequences of Treating an Employee as an Independent Contractor

If you classify an employee as an independent contractor, whether to avoid workers compensation costs or purely by accident, and you have no reasonable basis for doing so, you may be held liable for employment taxes for that worker as well as incur severe penalties. See the IRS guidelines for determining employee vs. independent contractor status for more information. 

Some Common Sense Guidelines for Determining Independent Contractor Status

While the IRS provides detailed guidelines for determining independent contractor status, it may be helpful to consider how one state simplified the criteria. New York State noted these requirements to be eligible for independent contractor status:  

• Advertising
  Has his/her own advertising (business cards, commercials, phone book listing, etc.)
• Authority
  Performs work via his own contract, permit, or authority
• Control
  Controls the manner and time for work performed
• Different Work and Customers
  Performs work that differs from the primary work of the hiring business, and performs work for other businesses
• EIN or Business Tax Return
  Has a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Federal IRS or has filed federal business or self-employment income tax returns for work or services performed in the prior calendar year
• Equipment
  Provides all equipment and materials needed to perform services under the contract
• Liability Insurance
  Has liability insurance (and if appropriate, has worker’s comp and disability insurance policies) under its own business name and Federal EIN
• Obligations
  Has recurring business liabilities and obligations
• Profit & Loss
  Operates under a specific contract, is responsible for satisfactory performance of work, is subject to profit or loss in performing the specific work under such contract, and is in a position to succeed or fail if the business's expenses exceed income
• Separate
  Maintains a separate business establishment

For most small businesses, workers compensation insurance costs can eat up a fair percentage of their income. While this type of coverage is essential, especially for riskier professions, there are a few ways to minimize your workers comp insurance expenditures without sacrificing the level of coverage necessary for your enterprise.

Here are some helpful tips to keep your costs under control:

Correctly classify your employees

Take a look at what you are paying in workers comp insurance per employee, and then ask yourself if all of these employees require the same level of coverage in relation to the riskiness of their profession. For instance, a typical office manager is far less likely to require workers compensation payments than a typical carpenter. Most workers compensation insurance companies charge different rates for these professions accordingly, so make sure that you aren't being overcharged for workers compensation insurance that you don't need. 

Familiarize yourself with relevant OSHA safety standards, and train your employees accordingly

As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. OSHA regulations exist for a reason, and one should always be careful about staying within the letter of the law in this matter. If you are unsure of the relevant standards, your local OSHA safety office can offer clarification. Make sure that your employees are well aware of their rights under OSHA statutes, and what they need to do in order to remain compliant. A workforce that is familiar and compliant with the basic safety standards of their industry is one that is less likely to utilize workers compensation insurance over the course of their tenure.

Ensure that all tools, equipment, and grounds are safe/in good working order

Make it a point to periodically check any motorized tools for dirt, debris, or other potential hazards, and have your employees periodically check things like brakes, fluid levels, and other vehicular aspects that can potentially pose a safety hazard if not up to par. Your workers compensation insurance is less likely to be needed if all tools and vehicles are in proper working order, so make sure that your employees understand that it is part of their regular work duties to clean, maintain, and lubricate their tools, vehicles, and work stations alike. You should also make sure that any physical grounds (such as your office, parking lots, and walkways,) are easy to access, free of debris, ice, or snow, and are as safe as possible. Workers compensation insurance will need to be tapped into if someone hurts themselves while on your property, so bear this in mind as you go!

Address claims quickly and compassionately

Whenever the unthinkable happens despite the best laid  plans, you can help to minimize the impact on your workers compensation insurance rates in a number of different ways. Make sure that the employee gets the medical help they need immediately, and make sure that their expenses are paid accordingly. Minimize the need for lawyers to get involved, make it as easy as possible for the employee in question to recover and return to work, and show genuine concern all the way through. This should help keep your workers compensation insurance rates reasonable throughout the life of your business.

In short, make sure that you look over your workers compensation insurance rates closely, itemize what you are paying per employee and why, and take all necessary steps to help your employees realize that their safety is priority number one!

Need help with reducing workers compensation costs? Contact American Insuring Group today to learn more.

Workers Compensation Insurance - A Potential Minefield

Purchasing workers compensation insurance can be a potential minefield for some businesses, who often don’t know where to start and can feel like they’re going in blind without a workers comp specialist to guide them along the way. It can seem like a daunting, upward struggle, especially since some insurance companies and agents won’t even consider writing workers compensation insurance – and they have their reasons - but with the right insurance broker, applicants can get through the process scratch-free. 

Choosing the Right Insurance Broker

It’s also important to note that purchasing workers compensation insurance from a business insurance agency with several markets available, is the best way forward for business owners looking for this type of insurance. At American Insuring Group LTD, we represent a number of A rated insurance companies that specialize in Workers Compensation insurance.  

Never Let Your Workers Compensation Insurance Lapse

The most important thing for business owners to remember is to never let their workers compensation insurance lapse, as that could lead to disastrous results. Although financial issues may seem dire, it’s likely clients will pay the price if they let their workers comp lapse, in the form of considerably higher premiums on re-application. The other obvious advice is to always pay premiums on time, as late payments could cause standard carriers to write off a client with a non-renewal notice – almost as bad as a lapse in coverage.

Re-application

If workers compensation insurance is allowed to expire and business owners go through the re-application process, they should be aware it’s not going to be easy – they’ll likely be bombarded with seemingly endless documentation in order to explain the expiration in the first place. Anyone finding themselves in this situation would be wise to save their sanity and consult an insurance broker or expert to help get them through the paper trial and advise them on the situation.

Claims can also be an issue. If a business has filed numerous claims with an insurance broker, then they are likely to get issued with higher premiums; that’s just the way insurance, as a whole, works.

Conclusion

When applying (or re-applying) for workers compensation insurance, business owners should work closely with an insurance broker. Ask questions, and be sure to find a broker who instils confidence. One last thing to bear in mind is the fact that all workers comp quotes are custom, with no ‘big rate books’ like the ones life insurance agents are familiar with. 

Get Help with Workers Comp Insurance

Have additional questions about workers compensation insurance? Contact us, or request a free, no-obligation workers compensation insurance quote. We'll compare policies and prices from competing carriers to make sure you get the right coverage at the right price.

Understanding Commercial Insurance Can be One Tough Job!  

Being a small business owner today is a tough job!  Between rules and regulations, licenses and taxes, and banking and commercial insurance, it sometimes seems you need your own board of directors just to help manage your business!

At American Insuring Group, Small Business Insurance is our specialty.  We can help you, the business owner, understand not only what commerical insurance protection your company needs, but also what business insurance is required of you to satisfy legal requirements.

Our office represents over a dozen "A" rated general insurance companies that specialize in small business insurance and we have access to dozens more specialty commercial insurance companies that fill specific small business insurance needs for our clients.

So How Many Types of Liability Insurance Are There?

The commercial insurance needs for a business owner can be daunting.  First, there is Public Liability Insurance that is a must to protect the business from lawsuits and claims for injuries or property damage to others.  But Public Liability Insurance isn't that simple.  What type of liability insurance protection do I need?  Is Premises Liability Insurance enough?  What if I leave my business location and go to someone else's home or business location?  Does my Liability Insurance cover me there as well?  What about when I finish a job and leave?  Do I have Completed Operations coverage if sometime later, after the job is finished, someone is hurt by my work or property damage is caused?

Are you a business owner who makes something, sells something, or just handles products someone else makes?  Do you have Product Liability Insurance coverage included in your General Liability Insurance coverage?  What if you harm someone's reputation or cause someone to lose sales, and they look to you for compensation? Personal or Advertising Injury Liability coverage protects the business owner from these claims.

What if an employee claims that you fired them under false pretense?  Or they make an allegation of harassment against you?  Employment Practices Liability Insurance is the protection that any business owner who employs someone must have to be protected.

There are many extentions of Public Liability Insurance the business owner should understand and use to be protected from the unexpected.  At American Insuring Group LTD., our licensed agents have the understanding and experience in Commercial Insurance to help you determine your insurance risks and to identify the insurance solutions to properly cover your businss. 

Workers Compensation Insurance - Are You Operating Legally?

Then, there is Workers Compensation Insurance for the small business that employs people. Most states require the business owner to cover employees for work related injuries.  What if you are a corporation without any employees?  States consider a corporation to be its own entity, and even you, the owner (officer), are considered an employee. Therefore you must either have Workers Compensation Insurance coverage or have the proper exclusion paperwork filed with the Department of Labor and Industry. At American Insuring Group, our licensed staff can help you with all the forms necesasary to be legal. 

Not only does Worker Compensation Insurance cover medical bills and lost wages for employees who get hurt during working hours, but there is a second business insurance coverage that is included with most policies.  Employer's Liability Insurance covers the business owner if an employee presents a claim against his employer for alleged negligence for his injuries.  An example of this is an employee who cuts off his finger on a machine.  Workers  Compensation Insurance would pay medical bills and lost wages, but if he claims the business did not properly maintain the equipment and now he must live life without a finger, the business owner would have protection from such a lawsuit under Employer's Liability Insurance.

Liability Insurance and Worker's Compensation Insurance covers only some of the insurance needs for the business owner. Other types of coverage include: Property Insurance protection, Van Insurance for your business vehicles, Umbrella Insurance for excess insurance protection, Bonding for the contractor's needs and Group Medical Benefits for your employees.

We Can Help You Make the Right Liability Insurance Decisions for Your Business

At American Insuring Group LTD, we take the time to understand your business so we can make sure every exposure to risk is discussed and covered by our small business insurance policies.  Call us today at 800-947-1270 or email me at david@aigltd.com. I would love to meet or talk to you and help you understand your business insurance needs.  If you already are covered by insurance, a second opinion may often uncover coverage gaps or missing insurance coverage that is needed.