Summer is in full swing which means you probably want to spend more time outside enjoying the sun than cooking in the kitchen. Our featured blog post this month is full of mouth-watering summer meals that the whole family is sure to enjoy! The best part is that these meals come together in just 15 minutes, guaranteeing you won’t miss out on the last few months of summer fun. We hope you enjoy!

With record highs being reported across the U.S. it’s looking like this summer is already shaping up to be a scorcher. If you’re looking for some ways to beat the heat, you’re not alone! Here are some helpful tips we want to share with you to keep you cool as temperatures get hot. Click here to check them out!

With summer almost here you’re probably getting excited about upcoming travel plans. If you’re still on the fence about where to go this summer, we recommend a trip to Seattle, Washington home to one of our two office locations. We may be a little biased, but Seattle is a paradise for anyone looking for a vacation with incredible views and plenty to do. Still undecided? Check out this guide filled with Seattle’s must-see spots and we think you’ll be convinced. 

Managing your small business’s insurance and risk is no small feat, but it is incredibly important. Having a properly structured insurance portfolio tailored to your small business needs can save you a significant amount of time and money in the case of unexpected events. 

While building the perfect insurance portfolio may seem daunting, we’re going to make it a whole lot easier for you by breaking it down into the four basic risks for which your business needs protection. If you own or operate a business with less than 100 employees, you’re going to want to pay close attention to these four main areas of risk.

1. Business structure

When it comes to assessing your small business’s risk, you’ll want to give careful consideration to your company’s legal structure. If you choose to operate your company as an “individual”, know that any liability you incur throughout your business venture will be yours for life. It might be a better idea to operate as a subchapter S Corporation, C Corporation, or even an LLC. Whichever way you choose to define your business, you should be sure to keep a clear separation between yourself and your company and seek advice from a trusted insurance advisor. 

2. Physical assets

It’s safe to assume that your small business will operate with the help of a number of physical assets. Things like buildings, property, inventory, equipment, and vehicles are often necessary to keep your business running. If not properly insured, these assets expose your company to unnecessary risk. While it may be tempting to cut costs by insuring corporate-owned vehicles or property under a personal policy, don’t be fooled. When it comes to your company’s physical assets, purchasing the wrong insurance can be just as risky as foregoing insurance all together! 

3. Liability risks

Whether you have 10 employees, 100 employees, or work only with independent contractors, make sure you are protected from liability risks with the correct coverages. Protect your employees and yourself by purchasing the necessary Workers’ Compensation coverage as well as Employment Practices insurance. Having proper liability coverage can be the difference between staying in business or folding. Keep your employees safe by ensuring they’re covered and conducting recurring safety meetings.  

4. Human assets

We’ve already mentioned protecting your physical assets, but what about the human assets? As a small business, you likely rely on a number of key individuals to keep things running smoothly.  Unfortunately, none of us have the power to predict the future and you never know when tragedy might strike, leaving you and your business devastated by loss. The best thing you can do is be prepared for these kinds of emergencies with the right insurance. 

So, there you have it. Just about every form of insurance falls under these four foundational points. But, there is one more important step when it comes to building your small business insurance portfolio, and that’s finding the right insurance representative to help you out! Look for a professional who is willing to place your needs at the forefront to ensure your business is properly protected. 

At UWIB, we use our decades of experience and extensive insurance knowledge to help our clients with a variety of risk management needs. If you are looking for help building an insurance portfolio specially tailored to your small business needs, contact one of our agents today.

The start of a new year is a great time for personal reflection, which also plays a role in your career success. Personal reflection is all about paying attention to your own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in hopes that you will learn something about yourself. By becoming aware of your own habits and behaviors, you can start to change the ones you don’t like and grow as a person. While it may sound challenging, we are all capable of self-reflection. Not sure where to start? Try these three essential skills to improve your self-reflection. 

Reflection is also important when it comes to your insurance! If you’re not sure how thoroughly your coverage protected you last year, we’d be happy to review your policies and provide recommendations for optimizing your insurance coverage.  Schedule a no-cost review of your current insurance today!

As the new year begins, you’re probably thinking of ways to improve your business this year. One concern that’s likely at the top of your list is how to keep your employees motivated and wanting to improve. Self-reflection is an important part of business, which is why it’s important to encourage your employees (and yourself!) to take the time to reflect on last year’s performance and achievements, as well as areas to grow this year. Your end-goal as a business owner is always to succeed, and a great way to encourage success in your employees is to ensure they are given the time and space to self-reflect. 

Reflection is also important when it comes to your insurance! If you’re not sure how thoroughly your coverage protected you last year, we’d be happy to review your policies and provide recommendations for optimizing your insurance coverage. Schedule a no-cost review of your current insurance today!

It happens every year. You set the same goals you did last year, only to get caught up in the same old cycle of forgetting about it or failing to complete it. But it doesn’t have to be this way! All you have to do is create more defined, achievable goals and then take action to achieve them. Don’t just think about your goals, write them down, give yourself deadlines and assess your progress throughout the year. Follow these steps and there’s no way you’ll be setting the same goals again next year.

If one of your goals is to make sure your personal or business insurance is properly protecting you, reach out to us at UWIB for a no-cost insurance review.

Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not, November is a time when many people check in with themselves and take stock of all they have to be thankful for. For some, words can be hard. Luckily, there are many ways to tell someone you love, or appreciate them, without actually saying those three words. Showing someone how much you care about them can be as simple as writing a thoughtful note or participating in one of their favorite hobbies. Whether it’s family, friends, or coworkers, here are 20 unique ways to say (and show) how much you appreciate and care for those in your life. 

In June of this year, the nation was left shocked by the sudden collapse of a condo building in Surfside, FL. The tragic event left nearly 100 people dead and millions of people questioning how this could have happened. After it was revealed that the collapse was likely due to over four decades of overdue repairs and structural damage, many turned their scrutiny toward the condo and homeowner association boards tasked with upholding these maintenance requirements.

Prioritizing a building’s maintenance repairs benefits everyone. Tenants can rest easy knowing they are safe from any damages caused by overdue repairs or structural damage and homeowners association boards can be confident their property values are increasing and their risks are decreasing.

So how can insurance professionals help?

As an independent agent, there are steps you can take to help manage risk for your board of director clients.

Step 1: Review current liability coverages
One of the easiest ways to help your board of directors clients mitigate risk is by reviewing their current liability coverages to identify any gaps. Most associations will have adequate property, general liability, and D&O coverages, but may be missing out on other crucial coverage such as:

Crime and Fidelity
Crime and fidelity insurance protects a board of directors from any costs incurred in the event of embezzlement or fraud.

Umbrella Insurance
Sometimes, general liability insurance isn’t enough to protect against unforeseen losses. In these instances, umbrella insurance can help a board of directors cover excess costs.

Workers Compensation
Workers compensation coverage can provide security when a board of directors uses a service provider who is not insured, without being aware of it. Workers compensation can also provide coverage to volunteers and board members who get injured on the job.

In addition, depending on the property location(s) agents should talk with clients about whether flood, earthquake, or hurricane insurance could be right for them.

Step 2: Encourage preventative measures
Detecting a maintenance or structural issue early can save your client a significant amount of work and money down the line and prevent avoidable tragedies. Discuss the measures your client is currently taking to assess the structural integrity of their property. Help your client be proactive in assessing and addressing building upkeep by encouraging them to take the following preventative measures:

Conduct a Reserve Study
The main purpose of a reserve study is to provide a board of directors with a financial plan for allocating reserved funds. Conducting a reserved study can help your client determine how well they are currently keeping up with general property upkeep as well as the board’s ability to cover damage costs in case of emergencies.

Perform a Property Assessment
While many states now require homeowners associations to conduct periodic structural assessments, many still have no such requirements. If your client is not required to perform property assessments, encourage them to do so anyway. By periodically evaluating a building’s structural integrity, you can address areas in need of maintenance before they lead to more serious issues.

Agents should remind clients that these preventative measures are not a one-time thing. Reserve studies and property assessments should be conducted on a regular basis to ensure no preventable damages or injuries occur. A structural engineer can help your client best determine how often these measures need to be taken.

Step 3: Advocate for transparency
Lack of transparency from homeowners associations can cause tenants to lose their trust, their money, and in extreme cases like the collapse of the Surfside condo, their lives. It is critical that these associations keep property tenants informed of any building needs and potential costs – no matter how big or small. Encourage your client to remain transparent with their property tenants about any structural damages or other maintenance needs as well as their plan to address them.

As an experienced insurance agent, you know a lot about mitigating risk. If your board of directors clients are feeling uncertain about their ability to manage their property risks, let them know that you are here to help. By working closely with your board of directors clients to review coverages, encourage preventative measures, and advocate for transparency you can help them feel more confident, save money, and most importantly avoid tragedies big or small.