On January 1, 2014, a number of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) more significant provisions will go into effect. This means that many employers renewing their health plans on or after January 1st can expect big changes to their plans and, most likely, their premiums. However, some small group employers (typically those with no more than 50 employees) may have the option of delaying these expected changes with off-cycle renewals.

Off-cycle renewals allow employers to change the renewal date of their health plans. Since some of the ACA’s 2014 changes do not apply until the renewal date, health plans renewing earlier in the year will experience premium increases sooner than those renewing later in the year. Regardless of a plan’s natural renewal date, an off-cycle renewal can change a plan’s renewal date to late 2013, thereby effectively delaying implementation of the changes, and the expected premium increase, until late 2014. More...

Insurance companies such as Geico and Progressive started selling personal insurance online over a decade ago. So is it safe to assume that business insurance can also be sold online?

We decided to explore this endeavour and we’re not the only ones. Plenty of insurance agencies offer business insurance, but very few can offer clients an online quote.

Just because the tool is out there doesn’t mean business owners will use it. Getting a quote for business insurance is significantly more complicated than obtaining a personal quote. Some of the other agencies that are offering business quotes are approaching it quite differently than we did. More...

We are pleased to announce that Voices for Children of Broward County is the winning charity of Setnor Byer's $5,000 Charitable Giving Facebook Campaign.

And because all of the Charities support such wonderful causes, we'd like to increase our donation to $10,000 and provide our 2nd place winner, Hispanic Unity, with $2,000. And split the remaining $3,000 with all others! More...

We all remember a time without the Internet. Things seemed less rushed and more personal. Business interactions were more face-to-face and less touch and go. Those were the days … emphasis on “were.” Faced with the reality of real usage data on the topic of online marketing—specifically social media and social marketing—some of you may still not be convinced of the permanence of this form of communication or the need to integrate it into your daily marketing activities. More...

Some self-storage managers have adopted a strategy of using sophisticated algorithms and demand analyses designed to maximize revenue when calculating their rents. This means that customers will receive a different rate for storing at the same facility. A customer who calls twice in a single day may receive two different quotes. More...

Renters often believe they have little in common with those who own their homes. While there are some significant differences between renting and owning, the need for insurance is not one of them. Indeed, renters and homeowners have very similar insurance needs. Unfortunately, many renters incorrectly believe that the need to insure their home vanished along with their obligation to maintain the lawn.

Unlike homeowners, renters are typically not required to insure the physical structure of the rental property since landlord’s often assume this responsibility. However, renters have valuable personal property that remains unprotected because it is not covered by the landlord’s policy. Renters also face possible liability if someone is injured on the rented premises. Since these risks are as harmful to renters as they are to homeowners, renters should obtain adequate insurance to protect against potentially devastating losses.

Building ordinances and laws (building codes) are upgraded regularly to improve a structure’s resistance to windstorm, earthquake, fire, and collapse. More...

If asked to prepare a complete inventory of every item of personal property in their home, many people would probably struggle to identify even half of their belongings. Despite the difficulty of such a task, most are left with no choice but to depend on their unreliable memory when it comes time to itemize a loss for their insurance company. Consequently, many people frustrate or delay the settlement of their claim because they failed to inventory their property. More...

Employers offering 401(k) plans to their employees assume significant responsibilities under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. As the federal law designed to protect employee retirement plans, ERISA imposes strict standards of care upon those who establish and administer such plans. More...

Ordinarily, a ruling handed down by the Supreme Court of Florida will find its way into the law books with little fanfare and in relative anonymity. More...

If you have ever elected to purchase uninsured (or underinsured) motorist (UM) coverage with your automobile insurance policy, you were likely asked if you would like to “stack” the coverage. More...

The halls have been decked, and employees have donned their gay apparel; everyone appears to be in good cheer at the office holiday party, held on a Saturday night at an off-site location. More...

When it comes to personal insurance, some people are content with their standard automobile and homeowners’ (or renters’) insurance policies. More...

Do employers have seven days to notify the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of a work-related incident that has resulted in the death of an employee? More...

Is lawyers' professional liability insurance necessary for a small law firm?

Professional liability insurance is vital for all law firms, no matter the size or the nature of the law firm’s practice. Lawyers’ professional liability insurance covers direct loss and expense to a lawyer or law firm arising from claims for alleged neglect, error or omission in the performance of services in a professional legal capacity.  More...

In light of recent military-related amendments to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), should I update the FMLA notice currently posted in my employees' break room?

Yes. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which generally applies to employers with 50 or more employees, was enacted to balance the demands of the workplace with the needs of families by allowing covered employees to take reasonable leave for medical, health, or family reasons. On January 28, 2008, President Bush signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes a provision that allows eligible employees to take up to 26 workweeks of leave during a 12-month period to provide needed care for a family member who suffers a serious illness or injury while on active duty in the Armed Forces. More...