Author Info for Woodruff Sawyer

Tracey Heeter Allen

What to Consider When Choosing a Mental Health Solution for Your Employee Benefits Program

Untreated mental health challenges can have a direct impact on how well employees perform at work—and the number of employees affected is rising. In 2021, 48% of employees said their mental health affected their work. That…more

Employee Benefits, Employee Retention, Employees, Health Care Providers, Healthcare

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David Anderson

The Toughest Cyber Challenges Facing the Construction Industry

The construction industry is at the crossroads of innovation and vulnerability. Escalating cyber threats, tightening regulations, and increasing reliance on technology has created a need for rapid cyber maturity and tailored…more

Construction Industry, Contractors, Cyber Insurance, Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)

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Russell Anderson

What Are Self-Funded Health Plans?

Many employees—and some employers—don’t realize how much companies pay for fully funded health insurance premiums. According to the KFF 2022 Employer Health Benefits Survey, premiums cost an average of $7,911 for single coverage…more

Employee Benefits, Health Insurance, Self-Funded Health Plans

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Joshua Andrews

Insurance for Mass Timber Manufacturers: 5 Ways to Customize Your Coverage

The right insurance coverage is critical for all businesses, and mass timber manufacturing is no exception. The complex and unique exposures mass timber manufacturers face creates a wide scope of insurance needs that vary by the…more

Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Liability Insurance, Policy Terms, Property Damage

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Munish Arora

Managing the Impact of Rising Auto Liability Claims Volatility – Part II

Last year, we documented the steady trend of increasing catastrophic auto liability claims since 2012 and explained some of the legal and social factors driving up the cost of these claims. In this article, we present updated…more

Auto Insurance, Bodily Injury, Car Accident, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry

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Sid Bahadkar

Q4 2023 International Benefits Update

In the final quarter of 2023, South Africa issued guidance on the new two-pot retirement system, Peru launched a new holiday starting in 2024, Singapore doubled its paid paternity leave, and Costa Rica reformed its pension…more

Employee Benefits, Employee Contributions, Employer Contributions, Pensions, Retirement

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Camellia Baker

Looking Ahead: A Guide to Property & Casualty Risk Management and Insurance in 2024

Inflation—both economic and social—continues to contribute to premium increases in the P&C insurance market, and rising reinsurance costs due to severe weather events have led to higher property insurance costs. However, we…more

Casualty Insurance, Commercial General Liability Policies, Commercial Insurance Policies, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry

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Kristin Beaulieu

Product Liability Insurance for Human Clinical Trials

Life sciences companies face unique exposures and these increase when those companies commence human clinical trials. Based on our recent webinar, this article provides an overview of how you can effectively manage product…more

Clinical Trials, Liability Insurance, Life Sciences

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Anne Belinn

An Industry at Risk: Addressing Mental Health in Construction

Construction occupations have the highest rates of death by suicide 1 and drug overdose 2 in the United States, and it’s increasing. It’s no secret that construction is a tough industry, built by hard-working laborers who put in…more

Construction Industry, Construction Workers, Employee Benefits, Mental Health

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Dan Berry

Transactional Risk in 2023: A Guide to Insurance Trends and Due Diligence

As we move deeper into the 2023 deal landscape, one thing is abundantly clear: Deal flow has experienced a significant slowdown over the last few quarters. According to PWC, private equity deal volume declined 22% during the…more

Acquisitions, Commercial Insurance Policies, Contract Terms, Due Diligence, Mergers

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Arthur Bojan

Claims Cost Transparency: Using Data to Optimize Medical Benefits Costs

How much would you get back in your budget if you could save up to 10% on your medical and Rx benefits costs? Employee benefits are the second largest budget item in employee compensation, with medical benefits consuming the…more

Benefit Plan Sponsors, Employee Benefits, Employer Group Health Plans, Health Insurance, Self-Insured Health Plans

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Nikki Brissette

Hawaii Insurance Division Approves 8.2% Increase in Workers’ Compensation Loss Cost Rates

The National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. (NCCI) recently requested an 11.2% average workers’ compensation (WC) loss cost rate increase for 2022, subject to approval by the Hawaii Insurance Division. After reviewing…more

Construction Industry, Employer Liability Issues, Hawaii, Insurance Industry, Underwriting

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Parker Bunbury

Environmental Liability Insurance versus RWI Environmental Coverage in M&A Transactions

A growing concern in many mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is the potential for environmental risks. Whether you are looking to acquire a manufacturing site or even just a tract of land for future construction, some environmental…more

Acquisitions, Contaminated Properties, Due Diligence, Environmental Liability, Environmental Site Assessment

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Dan Burke

2024 Guide to Cyber Liability Insurance

Twenty-one percent (21%) of S&P 500 companies experienced breaches in 2023, according to a report by SecurityScorecard. IBM states the average cost of a data breach globally last year was $4.45 million—a 15% increase over the…more

Cyber Insurance, Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, Insurance Industry, Liability Insurance

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Patrick Cagney

Risk Mitigation for Asset Managers After the Demise of the Private Fund Adviser Rules

While there is rest for weary legal and compliance pros at asset managers, and as you enjoy a cool Arnold Palmer in your hammock this Independence Day, spend a few minutes thinking about how your firm can leverage this moment…more

Asset Management, Disclosure Requirements, Investment Adviser, Investors, Risk Management

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Ian Campbell

A Win for Contractors in Oregon: New Law Repeals Retainage Escrow Requirements

Oregon contractors and subcontractors now may receive the full amount of their progress payments by posting a specified retainage surety bond with the owner and lender. On March 7, Gov. Tina Kotek signed HB 4006, an…more

Construction Contracts, Construction Industry, Construction Project, Escrow Accounts

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John Canepa, Sr.

Implementing “Highly Protected Risk” Programs Will Lower Property Insurance Costs

“Highly protected risk” (HPR) is an insurance industry term referring to a risk that has been controlled and managed through various measures…more

Commercial Insurance Policies, Commercial Property Owners, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Insurance Litigation

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Aaron Casey

The Growing Cyber Risks in Fintech and How to Mitigate Them

The fintech revolution has reshaped the financial world, creating new opportunities to borrow, save, transact, and invest like never before. With no signs of slowing, fintech revenues are projected to grow sixfold from $245…more

B2B Transactions, B2C, Banks, Consumer Financial Products, Cyber Attacks

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Elena Chen

Nation-State Cyber Attacks and Insurance Response: Revisiting the War Exclusion

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has prompted renewed concerns from many cyber insurance policyholders as to the insurability of nation-state sponsored cyber attacks. In a previous Woodruff Sawyer blog post, we have outlined the…more

Cyber Attacks, Cyber Insurance, Cyber Threats, Cybersecurity, Data Privacy

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Bridget Quinn Choi, Esq.

Healthcare’s Ever-Evolving Privacy Landscape: Litigation, Regulation, and the Perpetual Data Breach Risk

This webinar focuses on the privacy, security, regulatory, and litigation landscape that the healthcare sector is facing in in the privacy and cybersecurity arena. Leveraging Polsinelli’s experience working with healthcare…more

Cybersecurity, Data Breach, Data Privacy, Data Protection, Data Security

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Jennifer Chung

2024 Compliance Hot Topics

Congratulations to everyone for successfully safely navigating your health plans out of the pandemic crisis. We will review some of the key 2024 compliance hot topics you should know about in this annual benefits legislative…more

401k, Department of Labor (DOL), Final Rules, HDHP, IRS

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Sean Coady

[Webinar] D&O Insurance Trends Looking Ahead to 2024 - September 26th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am PT

The softening D&O market has continued into 2023, with 91% of our clients experiencing a cost reduction in their renewal in the first half of the year. Self-insured retentions have also continued to fall. The soft market is a…more

Class Action, Contract Renewal, Cybersecurity, D&O Insurance, Disclosure Requirements

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Jeff Colby

Medicare Guidance for Employers

More Americans are turning 65 than at any other time our country has ever known. We are now in the era of what is being called Peak 65, but rather than seeing a reduced workforce we’re finding more baby boomers opting to delay…more

Health Care Providers, Health Insurance, Hospitals, Medicare

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Jacob Decker

Crypto Gets a Market Value Nod from FASB

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is close to issuing final guidance for the accounting treatment of crypto assets. FASB will vote on the guidance in the coming weeks, but the most anticipated outcome is that…more

Cryptocurrency, D&O Insurance, Digital Assets, FASB, FinTech

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Dianna Del Collo

Does Your Company Have Foreign Exposure? Here Are Your Insurance Options

Whether your company has physical operations in another country or only engages in international sales, you have what is known in the insurance world as foreign exposure. And that means you should be intentional about how you…more

Commercial General Liability Policies, Commercial Insurance Policies, Insurance Industry, Liability Insurance, Policy Exclusions

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Emily Dobbins

Open Enrollment Tips for Employers: Steps to Success

Open enrollment can be a hectic time for even the most seasoned HR professionals, but the right mix of organization and communication can take your open enrollment from good to great. More than likely, you are already knee-deep…more

Employee Benefits, Employer Liability Issues, Open Enrollment

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Todd Dorsey

Transactional Risk in 2023: A Guide to Insurance Trends and Due Diligence

As we move deeper into the 2023 deal landscape, one thing is abundantly clear: Deal flow has experienced a significant slowdown over the last few quarters. According to PWC, private equity deal volume declined 22% during the…more

Acquisitions, Commercial Insurance Policies, Contract Terms, Due Diligence, Mergers

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Yelena Dunaevsky

Financial Accounting and Reporting for SPACs: Expert Tip

We’ll focus on some things SPAC issuers and deal teams are doing differently for this SPAC 4.0 phase, especially in the area of financial statement readiness and accounting. Here are highlights from my conversation with Jenn…more

Initial Public Offering (IPO), Publicly-Traded Companies, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs)

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Emanuel Enes

Preparing for the Unexpected: A Product Recall

The risk of a product recall has increased in recent years due to changing global regulatory standards. Contributing factors include geographically widespread supply chains and different manufacturing protocols among nations in…more

Distributors, Manufacturers, Product Defects, Product Recalls, Retailers

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Lee Exton

3 Trends Reshaping Pharmacy Benefits Management

In this blog and the webinar linked below, we offer a comprehensive analysis of three critical areas transforming the sector: GLP-1 medications, biosimilars, and PBM transparency. Our analysis covers diabetes and weight loss…more

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Chris Featherstun

The Voluntary Parting Exclusion: What You Need to Know

The US Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received more than 880,000 cybercrime complaints in 2023. Overall financial losses from cybercrime last year reached $12.5 billion, a record-setting year-over-year increase of about…more

Cyber Attacks, Cyber Crimes, Cybersecurity, Data Breach, Data Privacy

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Michael Ferraro

Looking Ahead: Expert Insights into the 2022 D&O Market

As predicted in last year’s Looking Ahead, D&O insurance rates continued to rise in 2021. However, there are early signs that the market is in transition and that some relief may be on the way. As documented in this year’s…more

Board of Directors, Corporate Governance, Corporate Officers, Cybersecurity, D&O Insurance

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Robin Fischer

Ransomware Attacks Continue to Cause More Underwriter Scrutiny

Continued widespread cyber attacks have leaders in just about every industry wary and watchful, and insurance underwriters are no exception. Given the increase in claims from recent ransomware attacks, cyber insurers are…more

Business Interruption, Cyber Attacks, Cyber Insurance, Cybersecurity, Data Breach

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Lauri Floresca

[Webinar] D&O Insurance Trends Looking Ahead to 2024 - September 26th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am PT

The softening D&O market has continued into 2023, with 91% of our clients experiencing a cost reduction in their renewal in the first half of the year. Self-insured retentions have also continued to fall. The soft market is a…more

Class Action, Contract Renewal, Cybersecurity, D&O Insurance, Disclosure Requirements

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Chad Follmer

MICRA Reform: What It Means for California Healthcare Providers

MICRA, or the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act of 1975, is a California statute that limits the non-economic damages portion of medical malpractice claims with the intent of reducing tort liability for healthcare…more

Health Care Providers, Malpractice Insurance, Medical Malpractice, MICRA, Negligence

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Tyson Freeburg

Reps & Warranties Insurance: Our 2024 Guide

The use of representations and warranties insurance (RWI or R&W) has become increasingly mainstream. An estimated 75% of private equity transactions and 64% of larger strategic acquirers use it. Woodruff Sawyer’s R&W team…more

Acquisitions, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Mergers, Representations and Warranties

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Marie Gallanar

Preparing For the Unthinkable: How to Create an Active Shooter Response Plan

According to The Violence Prevention Project, workplaces are the most common locations for mass shootings in the US. The organization, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center funded by the National Institute of Justice, reports…more

Insurance Industry, Mass Shootings, Policy Terms, Workplace Safety, Workplace Violence

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Stephen Glazier

Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in CA: Key Points from Senate Bill 553

Workplace violence is a serious concern that can affect any workplace. The California State legislature recently passed Senate Bill 553, which, in section 6401.9 created a requirement for most employers not already covered by…more

California, Employer Liability Issues, Employment Policies, OSHA, State Labor Laws

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Paul Glover

Looking Ahead: A Guide to Property & Casualty Risk Management and Insurance in 2024

Inflation—both economic and social—continues to contribute to premium increases in the P&C insurance market, and rising reinsurance costs due to severe weather events have led to higher property insurance costs. However, we…more

Casualty Insurance, Commercial General Liability Policies, Commercial Insurance Policies, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry

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Scott Goettelman, Esq.

AI in the Healthcare Industry: Balancing Risk and Reward

Are the rewards of using artificial intelligence (AI) in the healthcare industry worth the inherent risks? Whether you find yourself on one side of this issue or on the fence, we encourage you to listen to our recent webinar…more

Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, Health Care Providers, Machine Learning, Physicians

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Ron Guerena

Looking Ahead: A Guide to Property & Casualty Risk Management and Insurance in 2024

Inflation—both economic and social—continues to contribute to premium increases in the P&C insurance market, and rising reinsurance costs due to severe weather events have led to higher property insurance costs. However, we…more

Casualty Insurance, Commercial General Liability Policies, Commercial Insurance Policies, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry

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Debbie Hammer

Workers’ Comp: The Fine Line Between Abuse and Fraud

Workers’ compensation (WC) insurance is designed to protect employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses and offer crucial support during times of need. However, there is a darker side to this coverage—the insidious…more

Employer Liability Issues, Workers' Compensation Claim, Workplace Hazards, Workplace Injury, Workplace Safety

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Stacey Hammer

Reps & Warranties Insurance: Our 2024 Guide

The use of representations and warranties insurance (RWI or R&W) has become increasingly mainstream. An estimated 75% of private equity transactions and 64% of larger strategic acquirers use it. Woodruff Sawyer’s R&W team…more

Acquisitions, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Mergers, Representations and Warranties

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Suzanne Haslam

Employer Cost Saving Strategies for Fully Insured Health Plans

When you have a fully insured health plan, you might think you don’t have a viable way to reduce benefits costs. After all, you can’t access the data analytic insights you would see if you were self-funded. But switching to…more

Employee Benefits, Employer Group Health Plans, Health Insurance, Medical Reimbursement Plans

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Evan Hessel

Looking Ahead: A Guide to Property & Casualty Risk Management and Insurance in 2024

Inflation—both economic and social—continues to contribute to premium increases in the P&C insurance market, and rising reinsurance costs due to severe weather events have led to higher property insurance costs. However, we…more

Casualty Insurance, Commercial General Liability Policies, Commercial Insurance Policies, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry

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Dan Hodges

3 Trends Reshaping Pharmacy Benefits Management

In this blog and the webinar linked below, we offer a comprehensive analysis of three critical areas transforming the sector: GLP-1 medications, biosimilars, and PBM transparency. Our analysis covers diabetes and weight loss…more

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Andrew Holloway

It’s Either Here or Looming: How a Recession Could Impact Your Surety Program

COVID-19 brought uncertainty to the construction and surety industries. Surprisingly and fortunately, both industries have proven resilient in the face of unknowns brought about by the pandemic. Now it’s time to plan for what’s…more

Construction Industry, Economic Downturn, Financial Planning, Market Conditions, Recessions

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Philip Howes

Looking Ahead: A Guide to Property & Casualty Risk Management and Insurance in 2024

Inflation—both economic and social—continues to contribute to premium increases in the P&C insurance market, and rising reinsurance costs due to severe weather events have led to higher property insurance costs. However, we…more

Casualty Insurance, Commercial General Liability Policies, Commercial Insurance Policies, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry

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Doug Huntington

Business Interruption Insurance: Planning for Disaster

No one wants to think about a business interruption loss, let alone plan for it. However, fire claims, water damage claims, and more frequent extreme weather-related disasters have made business interruption (BI) losses more…more

Business Interruption, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Policy Terms

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Priya Cherian Huskins

Large Derivative Suit Settlements and Your Side A D&O Insurance

Traditionally, this has been the main type of derivative suit that has resulted in large settlements. Merger and acquisition cases are common here. Examples of these types of suits include Paramount Global (CBS-Viacom merger)…more

Board of Directors, Class Action, D&O Insurance, Derivative Suit, Fiduciary Duty

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Gil Isidro

EPL Update: Ending Forced Arbitration for Claims of Sexual Assault and Harassment

A recent bipartisan bill will change the litigation landscape when it comes to sexual assault and harassment in the workplace. At the same time, employers should be on guard because a recent court decision may have the impact of…more

Arbitration, Arbitration Agreements, Employer Liability Issues, Federal Arbitration Act, Mandatory Arbitration Clauses

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Jon Janes

Insights from the SVB Bankruptcy: Insurance Lessons for Directors and Officers

There were 18,926 business bankruptcy filings in 2023. The number of companies that filed for bankruptcy with $1 billion or more in liabilities was 22. Some notable companies filed for bankruptcy including RiteAid, Vice Group,…more

Banking Sector, Banks, FDIC, Financial Institutions, Silicon Valley

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Hector Jaramillo

The Untapped Potential of Benefits Data Analytics

Woodruff Sawyer’s “Mission to More” series leads you through today’s Benefits news and serves as a guide for everything from competitive programs to compliance. In this blog post, Hector Jaramillo shares the power of using data…more

Analytics, Data Collection, Data Management, Data Privacy, Employee Benefits

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Jeffery John

Examining Electric Vehicle Hazards in Parking Garages

Renewable energies are the key to our sustainability and reduction of greenhouse gases. US automakers and legislators/regulators have been focused on moving from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electric vehicles (EVs) to…more

Electric Vehicles, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Lithium Batteries, Parking Lots

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Drew Johnston

What’s the Latest on Drone Insurance?

It’s been nearly a decade since drones first burst onto the scene. Drones used to be something many of us initially considered too high-tech for ordinary aviation hobbyists and associated them more with military applications…more

Airspace, Commercial General Liability Policies, Commercial Use, Drones, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

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Kristina Keck

Pooled Employer Plan: An Efficient Alternative to a Traditional 401(k)

In 2022, less than half (46%) of American households had no savings in retirement accounts. Part of the savings shortfall could be lack of access to retirement programs through work, which is the case for 56 million privately…more

401k, Employee Benefits, Retirement, Retirement Plan

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Thomas Kim

Workers’ Comp for Remote Employees: Here’s What You Need to Know

Much has changed in the two-and-a-half years since March 2020, when most of the country went into lockdown due to COVID-19 and most businesses moved to remote work models. As a result of mass layoffs and employee absences due to…more

Coronavirus/COVID-19, Going and Coming Rule, Popular, Safety Standards, Workers Compensation Awards

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Brandi Kyle

Medicare Guidance for Employers

More Americans are turning 65 than at any other time our country has ever known. We are now in the era of what is being called Peak 65, but rather than seeing a reduced workforce we’re finding more baby boomers opting to delay…more

Health Care Providers, Health Insurance, Hospitals, Medicare

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Michael Landucci

Construction Insurance Market Update: Rate Consistency for Most Lines

Despite a slowing economy and continuing supply chain issues, rates in most lines of coverage for construction companies are showing signs of stabilization. Even cyber, which had some of the highest increases last year, slowed…more

Construction Industry, Construction Project, Contractors, Insurance Industry

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Sandi Leung

Employee Benefits Trends for 2023: Finding the Right Balance

Employers are adjusting to changing workforce dynamics while benefits solutions are evolving to address different needs. COVID-19 changed what employees need and the benefits they want. In this webinar recap, you will learn…more

Coronavirus/COVID-19, Employee Benefits, Employment Policies, Fertility Treatments, Mental Health

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Kaitlyn Lillard

Insurance Claims Best Practices: 5 Tips for a Seamless Claims Process

The frequency and cost of commercial claims have increased significantly in recent years, and given rising inflation and the legal landscape, we expect this trend to continue. While we know many would prefer not to focus on…more

Best Practices, Claims Made Policy, Commercial Insurance Policies, Insurance Claims, Policy Terms

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Jan Lim

Employees Using Their Personal Cars for Work: Which Auto Policy Applies?

Many businesses have employees use their personal cars for work purposes. It may be that they drive their own vehicles routinely for sales calls, or they may occasionally pick up or drop off company mail or handle banking…more

Auto Insurance, Best Practices, Employer Liability Issues, Policy Terms

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Lenin Lopez

Leveraging Advisory Boards: A Solution for Public Companies

Public companies are under immense pressure to stay ahead of emerging trends, navigate increasingly complex regulations, and meet investor and other stakeholder demands. The expertise required to address these challenges is…more

Advisory Board, Board of Directors, Corporate Governance, Environmental Social & Governance (ESG), Publicly-Traded Companies

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Jeanna Madlener

Supplementing Your Workforce with H-2B Visas? Here’s What You Need to Know

Insights Jeanna MadlenerVice President, Producer/Account Executive, Property & Casualty June 8, 2022 /Property & Casualty For the second year in a row, the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)…more

Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Labor (DOL), Foreign Workers, H-2B, Immigration Procedures

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Samuel Magill

Commercial Property Construction Plan Review: Tips for Your Business

New construction is the hallmark of your growing business. But did you know that new building additions and renovations are subject to the same code requirements as your existing infrastructure?…more

Commercial Property Owners, Construction Project, Insurance Litigation, Policy Terms, Property Insurance

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Emily Maier

Reps & Warranties Insurance: Our 2024 Guide

The use of representations and warranties insurance (RWI or R&W) has become increasingly mainstream. An estimated 75% of private equity transactions and 64% of larger strategic acquirers use it. Woodruff Sawyer’s R&W team…more

Acquisitions, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Mergers, Representations and Warranties

See all updates »

Gary Mann

Crypto Gets a Market Value Nod from FASB

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is close to issuing final guidance for the accounting treatment of crypto assets. FASB will vote on the guidance in the coming weeks, but the most anticipated outcome is that…more

Cryptocurrency, D&O Insurance, Digital Assets, FASB, FinTech

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Heidi Martin

Managing the Impact of Rising Auto Liability Claims Volatility – Part II

Last year, we documented the steady trend of increasing catastrophic auto liability claims since 2012 and explained some of the legal and social factors driving up the cost of these claims. In this article, we present updated…more

Auto Insurance, Bodily Injury, Car Accident, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry

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Daniel Mattioli

Update: What Medical Liability Reform Means for Healthcare Providers

Almost two years ago, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 35 into law, reforming California’s Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) of 1975. As discussed in this previous blog about MICRA reform, the…more

Health Care Providers, Medical Malpractice, Physicians, Professional Liability

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Mark McEvoy

Looking Ahead: A Guide to Property & Casualty Risk Management and Insurance in 2024

Inflation—both economic and social—continues to contribute to premium increases in the P&C insurance market, and rising reinsurance costs due to severe weather events have led to higher property insurance costs. However, we…more

Casualty Insurance, Commercial General Liability Policies, Commercial Insurance Policies, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry

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Shelley Medeiros

The Voluntary Parting Exclusion: What You Need to Know

The US Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received more than 880,000 cybercrime complaints in 2023. Overall financial losses from cybercrime last year reached $12.5 billion, a record-setting year-over-year increase of about…more

Cyber Attacks, Cyber Crimes, Cybersecurity, Data Breach, Data Privacy

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Ryan Meissner

What’s Driving Benefits Renewal Hikes and How Can You Prepare?

With many healthcare renewal costs expected to have significant increases in 2024, some even by 20% or more, employers are facing an uncomfortable decision. How should they adjust employee benefits to accommodate the significant…more

Coronavirus/COVID-19, Employee Benefits, Health Insurance

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Kimberly Michell

Employees Working Abroad: The Insurance Implications

As employers of all sizes expand globally, they must know how to address the global insurance rules, regulations, and best practices. Your company may have operations only in the US, but that doesn’t mean it you don’t have…more

Employer Liability Issues, Insurance Industry, Workplace Injury, Workplace Safety

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Teresa Milano

D&O Risk and Insurance in a Post-Chevron World

To modify an old saying: “Nothing is certain but death, taxes...and corporate opposition to government regulations.” Over the decades, companies and interest groups have frequently challenged government regulations in court—and…more

Administrative Procedure Act, Chevron Deference, D&O Insurance, Insurance Industry, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

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Susan Miner

Looking Ahead: Expert Insights into the 2022 D&O Market

As predicted in last year’s Looking Ahead, D&O insurance rates continued to rise in 2021. However, there are early signs that the market is in transition and that some relief may be on the way. As documented in this year’s…more

Board of Directors, Corporate Governance, Corporate Officers, Cybersecurity, D&O Insurance

See all updates »

Kevin Moore

Looking Ahead: A Guide to Property & Casualty Risk Management and Insurance in 2024

Inflation—both economic and social—continues to contribute to premium increases in the P&C insurance market, and rising reinsurance costs due to severe weather events have led to higher property insurance costs. However, we…more

Casualty Insurance, Commercial General Liability Policies, Commercial Insurance Policies, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry

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John Neuhalfen

The Commercial Insurance Landscape Continues to Evolve: A Q2 2023 Update

The outlook for the commercial lines insurance market remains largely unchanged since the first quarter, with the supply of capital driving pricing behavior in all segments. For the directors and officers (D&O) market, rates…more

Business Interruption, Commercial Insurance Policies, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Insurance Litigation

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Walker Newell

D&O Risk and Insurance in a Post-Chevron World

To modify an old saying: “Nothing is certain but death, taxes...and corporate opposition to government regulations.” Over the decades, companies and interest groups have frequently challenged government regulations in court—and…more

Administrative Procedure Act, Chevron Deference, D&O Insurance, Insurance Industry, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

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Leslie Newman

Why You Need a Designated Occupational Clinic

Are you familiar with this scenario? One of your employees has a seemingly minor injury while working. After hitting her hand on the corner of her desk, she decides to visit her primary care doctor through her private medical…more

Employer Liability Issues, Health and Safety, Human Resources Professionals, Labor Regulations, Workers' Compensation Claim

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Aparna Niroola

An Employer’s Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance

Research shows that 70% of Americans may need long-term care at some point in their lives. Although that need is greatest for older adults, anyone at any age may suffer an accident or illness that results in the need for…more

Employee Benefits, Health Care Providers, Health Insurance, Long Term Care Facilities, Long-Term Care

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Jane Njavro

D&O Insurance Trends: Looking Ahead to 2025

In this increasingly litigious and regulatory intense environment, D&O Looking Ahead provides a bridge to help you stay on top of the evolving D&O risk landscape. – Priya Huskins The streak of good news in D&O litigation risk…more

D&O Insurance, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Insurance Litigation, Policy Exclusions

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Brian O'Regan

Managing Transactional Risk in 2024: A Strategy Guide

As we move further into 2024, we have a clearer perspective on where 2023 ended in the private equity and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market. We predict more of the same throughout 2024, but there are bright signs for…more

Acquisitions, Due Diligence, EBITDA, Insurance Industry, Investment

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Cheryl Park

Workers’ Compensation Investigations: The Why, When, and How

Workers’ compensation claims are costly and can drag on for years. The average cost of a lost time claim (indemnity and medical only) in California has increased from $54,712 in 2018 to $58,843 in 2021, according to the Workers’…more

Employer Liability Issues, Fraud, Health & Safety Standard, Workers Compensation Awards, Workers' Compensation Claim

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Luke Parsons

Insuring Fund Liability Risks: A Guide to GPL Coverage for Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms

Woodruff Sawyer has been a leader in the fund-level General Partnership Liability space since the inception of the insurance product over 30 years ago. In today’s business and regulatory environment, the venture capital, private…more

Indemnification, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Private Equity, Venture Capital

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Judith Pearson

Does a Successor Trustee Need Liability Insurance?

A successor trustee is the individual named in a trust document to step in as trustee in the event of the original trustee’s death, incapacitation, or resignation. A successor trustee assumes the role of safeguarding the trust…more

Insurance Industry, Liability Insurance, Successors, Trustees

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Wade Pederson

Preparing For the Unthinkable: How to Create an Active Shooter Response Plan

According to The Violence Prevention Project, workplaces are the most common locations for mass shootings in the US. The organization, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center funded by the National Institute of Justice, reports…more

Insurance Industry, Mass Shootings, Policy Terms, Workplace Safety, Workplace Violence

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Seth Pfalzer

D&O Insurance Trends: Looking Ahead to 2025

In this increasingly litigious and regulatory intense environment, D&O Looking Ahead provides a bridge to help you stay on top of the evolving D&O risk landscape. – Priya Huskins The streak of good news in D&O litigation risk…more

D&O Insurance, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Insurance Litigation, Policy Exclusions

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Heidi Phillips

Protecting Employees Abroad: International Insurance Choices

There are a variety of different coverages to consider and choose from when employees travel internationally. We are currently seeing an uptick in situations and receiving questions about matters that used to be rare or even…more

Foreign Workers, Kidnapping, Terrorist Acts, Traveling Employee

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Byron Pogir

Bed Bath & Beyond, Bankruptcy, and Fiduciary Litigation

In September 2023, former employees of Bed Bath & Beyond sued members of the company’s 401(k) committee, the committee responsible for the prudent management of the company’s 401(k) plan. The former employees allege they lost…more

401k, Breach of Duty, Employee Benefits, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Fiduciary Duty

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Carolyn Polikoff

Q2 2024 Commercial Insurance Market: Positive Conditions Across Most Segments

Insurance buyers enjoyed favorable market conditions across most segments of the commercial lines market in the first half of 2024. D&O and Cyber led the way in premium decreases, even benefiting companies with claims activity…more

Commercial Insurance Policies, D&O Insurance, Insurance Industry, Policy Exclusions, Policy Terms

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Kathy Prosser

How Your Employee Assistance Program Supports Mental Health

We’re just starting to understand the effects of more than two years of lockdowns, closures, and isolation, but one thing is clear—the mental health of various populations has been severely affected. Whether you have a…more

Employee Assistance Programs, Employee Benefits, Firm Leadership, Health and Safety, Mental Health

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Paul Quinn

Work-From-Anywhere Culture: Do Your Employees in Other States (or Countries) Have Workers’ Compensation Coverage?

Ask any business owner, Human Resources manager, or hiring placement specialist and they will tell you about the challenges of hiring and retaining employees since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. We have all heard the…more

Employee Benefits, Employer Liability Issues, Employment Policies, Hiring & Firing, State Labor Laws

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Stephen Quintana

[Virtual Event] Managing Media Risk in the Age of Social Media Influencers: Risk Mitigation and Insurance Considerations - March 26th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am PT

Influencer marketing has become one of the fastest growing trends in marketing, yet it comes with a growing set of media liability claims. In this webinar, we will contextualize some of the legal liability issues in using…more

Influencers, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Marketing, Media Liability Policies

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Megan Rath

Life Sciences IPO Summit: Insurance and Factors That Impact IPO

Experts from the life sciences industry shared their insights on the steps to going public in a virtual summit hosted by Woodruff Sawyer. The Summit featured leaders representing Cooley, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE),…more

Board of Directors, Capital Markets, Corporate Governance, Initial Public Offering (IPO), Joint Venture

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Qiana Redmond

Workers’ Compensation Investigations: The Why, When, and How

Workers’ compensation claims are costly and can drag on for years. The average cost of a lost time claim (indemnity and medical only) in California has increased from $54,712 in 2018 to $58,843 in 2021, according to the Workers’…more

Employer Liability Issues, Fraud, Health & Safety Standard, Workers Compensation Awards, Workers' Compensation Claim

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Mike Ritthaler

RSUs in Compensation: New Changes May Affect Workers’ Compensation Premiums

Restricted stock units (RSUs) and other forms of equity-based compensation are creating a stir in the workers’ compensation marketplace, forcing insurance carriers to revisit whether to include them as payroll when calculating…more

Insurance Industry, Qualified Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), Restricted Stocks, Stock Options

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Jeremy Roberts

Environmental Liability Insurance versus RWI Environmental Coverage in M&A Transactions

A growing concern in many mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is the potential for environmental risks. Whether you are looking to acquire a manufacturing site or even just a tract of land for future construction, some environmental…more

Acquisitions, Contaminated Properties, Due Diligence, Environmental Liability, Environmental Site Assessment

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Rebekah Ross

Navigating Provident Fund Systems

Provident funds, or government-administered retirement funds, were introduced as a form of “social protection” to alleviate poverty at the time of retirement. Most social programs at the time did not provide enough to cover…more

Employee Benefits, Employee Contributions, Employer Contributions, Pensions, Retirement

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Chris Scheffler

Five Property Insurance Warning Signs and What to Do About Them

Replacement value is the main factor to consider when purchasing property insurance. However, the Construction, Occupancy, Protection, and Exposure (COPE) features of the building also impact the cost, availability, and terms of…more

Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Insurance Litigation, Property Damage, Property Insurance

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Keeley Sidow

What Will 2023 Bring to the Cyber Liability Market? 5 Takeaways from Our Webinar

After two years of volatility, cyber liability prices finally appear to be normalizing due to factors that include a downturn in price increases and a lower frequency of ransomware attacks in 2022—all of which have resulted in…more

California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), Cyber Insurance, Cybersecurity, D&O Insurance, Data Privacy

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Andrew Silva

Taking Stock of SPACs: 2022 Trends in Review

Plenty has changed since January 2022, when we last examined developing trends in the SPAC market. Since then, the macroeconomic environment shifted dramatically due to rising inflation, increasing interest rates, and the war in…more

Capital Markets, D&O Insurance, Initial Public Offering (IPO), Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPEs), Publicly-Traded Companies

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Marc Strickland

Employee Benefits Trends for 2023: Finding the Right Balance

Employers are adjusting to changing workforce dynamics while benefits solutions are evolving to address different needs. COVID-19 changed what employees need and the benefits they want. In this webinar recap, you will learn…more

Coronavirus/COVID-19, Employee Benefits, Employment Policies, Fertility Treatments, Mental Health

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Amanda Swanson

Dependent Eligibility Audit Best Practices

As health care costs continue to rise, many employers are looking for ways they can help contain or eliminate unnecessary health plan costs without impacting the benefits coverage itself. Toward that end, some employers may find…more

Audits, Benefit Plan Sponsors, Best Practices, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)

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Sammie Thean

Workers’ Comp for Remote Employees: Here’s What You Need to Know

Much has changed in the two-and-a-half years since March 2020, when most of the country went into lockdown due to COVID-19 and most businesses moved to remote work models. As a result of mass layoffs and employee absences due to…more

Coronavirus/COVID-19, Going and Coming Rule, Popular, Safety Standards, Workers Compensation Awards

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Jim Tolliver

California Affluent Personal Insurance for Homeowners: 2023 Market Outlook

It’s a volatile time within the private client insurance market, and California homeowners are in a tough spot as we head further into 2023. Specialized affluent market insurers in the state continue to struggle to offer…more

Homeowner's Insurance, Homeowners, Insurance Industry, Insurance Litigation, Property Insurance

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Lauren Trapp

Reps & Warranties Insurance: Our 2024 Guide

The use of representations and warranties insurance (RWI or R&W) has become increasingly mainstream. An estimated 75% of private equity transactions and 64% of larger strategic acquirers use it. Woodruff Sawyer’s R&W team…more

Acquisitions, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Mergers, Representations and Warranties

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Jamin Valdez

Construction Insurance Market Update | 2024 Mid-Year Update

Amidst the evolving construction insurance landscape, our mid-year update offers timely insights for industry stakeholders. This mid-year update provides highlights on: Forecasted construction spending in the US How insurance…more

Construction Industry, Construction Project, Contractors, Insurance Industry

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Sheila Villaroman

Employer Cost Saving Strategies for Fully Insured Health Plans

When you have a fully insured health plan, you might think you don’t have a viable way to reduce benefits costs. After all, you can’t access the data analytic insights you would see if you were self-funded. But switching to…more

Employee Benefits, Employer Group Health Plans, Health Insurance, Medical Reimbursement Plans

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Heather Warner, Esq.

AI in the Healthcare Industry: Balancing Risk and Reward

Are the rewards of using artificial intelligence (AI) in the healthcare industry worth the inherent risks? Whether you find yourself on one side of this issue or on the fence, we encourage you to listen to our recent webinar…more

Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, Health Care Providers, Machine Learning, Physicians

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Walter Winter

New and Proposed Legislation Puts Spotlight on Long-Term Care Insurance in California

In 2022, the state of Washington enacted a law requiring employers to begin collecting a 0.58% payroll tax from employees unless they have private long-term care coverage. The funds are intended to provide a limited lifetime…more

Employee Benefits, Long Term Care Insurance, Long-Term Care, Payroll Taxes

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Gwendolyn Wong

Windshield Damages: Repair or Replace?

If a piece of cargo falls off a truck on the road, debris could strike your windshield. A rock or a bit of gravel that was caught under a truck’s tire treading could fly toward your windshield. Flying objects like a softball,…more

Auto Insurance, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry, Property Damage, Property Insurance

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Susan Young

Looking Ahead: Employee Benefits Funding Strategies for 2024 and Beyond

For many companies, healthcare costs continue to increase for many companies and this trend is expected to continue into 2025, prompting many companies to look for ways to manage expenses and measure the value of their…more

Benefit Plan Sponsors, Employee Benefits, Retirement, Retirement Plan

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