Although it may feel like it, Halloween is not a national holiday. This means that for many of us, Halloween is spent in the office, but that doesn’t mean it has to be like every other workday. From costume contests to spooky decorations and themed luncheons, here are 9 ideas for celebrating Halloween at the office while still motivating employees and increasing morale.
As an adult, you may not be trick-or-treating anymore, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still celebrate Halloween. A great way to celebrate Halloween as an adult is to throw a party with your friends or family. Whether you want to go all out with themed decorations and drinks or just keep it simple with a scary movie marathon, here are 10 creative Halloween party ideas sure to get your guests in the holiday spirit.
Think you’re safe from financial fraud? Think again. Financial fraud can happen to anyone, at any time. Financial fraud doesn’t always look the same, it can come in many different shapes and sizes and the financial stress it causes can have a huge impact on your physical and mental well-being. The best way to protect yourself from becoming a victim of financial fraud is to be informed. Know what to look for and be cautious of anyone asking for personal information.
Use these tips to spot financial fraud before becoming a victim of it.
Does your business insurance help you cover the losses associated with being a victim of financial fraud? If you’re not sure, then get in touch today for a no-cost review of your policies!
Fourth Quarter 2021 is looming. With another year feeling a bit “lost” to COVID-19, it’s important to take stock what you have achieved despite the challenges that continue each day.
As the year winds down, it’s also a good time to review the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the year. Be proud of any goals you have achieved and note any that you may still be working on. Having trouble achieving any of your goals? Here are 6 habits that you can adopt today to help you reach your goals by the end of the year.
If any of your goals include making sure your personal or business insurance coverage is doing its job and providing you with the protection you need, please get in touch with us for a no-cost insurance checkup.
If you believe the science that says sitting is the new smoking, it’s more important than ever to make sure to get up and take frequent walk breaks.
10,000 steps a day has long been the goal for battling our sedentary lifestyle, but how do we even begin to achieve that? For many of us working from home, staring at our computer all day, the best we can manage is the 50 steps from our office to our kitchen for a lunch break. The good news? Getting your 10,000 steps in each day is a lot easier than you may think, it just takes a little creativity. You can work more steps into your everyday life with little changes, like taking the stairs instead of the escalator (if you are back in an office) or change up your routine by taking a walk during that 30-minute business call or on your lunch break.
Getting in some steps has numerous physical and mental benefits. As hard as it can be to take a break, you’ll be even more productive when you get back to your desk – and healthier!
For more ideas on how to reach your 10,000 steps, click here.
Most businesses have abandoned the use of file cabinets and paper records. Today’s file cabinet is a hard drive and, in many cases, it lives in the cloud. As of mid-July 2021, there were at least three significant cyber-attacks just since March. These events have been highly publicized, raising awareness of cyber risks for all businesses. In fact, Federal Reserve Chairman Jeremy Powell stated that the next major threat to the economy is cyber and you can watch his 60 Minutes Interview.
Microsoft Exchange Hack (3/2/2021) – A vulnerability in the Microsoft Exchange email servers exposed over 30,000 business’ internal data to hackers.
Colonial Pipeline Attack (5/7/2021) – The Colonial Pipeline Attack impacted nearly half of the East Coast’s fuel supply and shut off their pipelines for 11 days. This event highlights how ransomware attacks are leading to greater cyber risks.
VMware Exploit (6/4/2021) – A VMware vulnerability with a severity rating of 9.8 out of 10 was exploited by cybercriminals to launch attacks on organizations using VMware.
Collectively, these events signify the growing risk of cyber threats. No business, big or small, is immune from cyber incidents which can be devastating. Businesses need robust and relevant cyber coverage, so they can return to normal operations quickly after an incident.
@UWIB_Risk and the team at UWIB.com offer standalone cyber insurance that can be customized to match the needs of any business and can include complimentary cyber awareness training and risk monitoring tools to help minimize cyber risk for your business.
Here’s a ninety-second video designed to illustrate the point and provide solutions. Let me hear from you.
DC on Cyber from UWIB on Vimeo.
The pandemic brought a rise in new pet owners, with millions of Americans left quarantined at home alone, animal shelters across the country were left empty due to such high adoption rates. Whether you adopted a new furry friend during quarantine or are thinking of doing so soon, you’ll want to leave some extra room in your budget for pet insurance.
What is pet insurance?
Pet insurance policies help you offset the costs of routine care for your pet as well as any unexpected illness or injury they might endure. Most pet insurance policies cover everything from acupuncture to ACL tears. You can decide if you want coverage only for major accidents and illnesses, only for routine check-ups and vaccinations, or coverage that extends to both. It is important to know that pet insurance does not cover taxes, waste, grooming, boarding, or any pre-existing conditions.
Why do I need pet insurance?
Pet insurance guarantees peace of mind by protecting pet owners against any unexpected veterinary costs. While your pets may be perfectly healthy now, the truth is 1 in 3 pets will require emergency medical treatment in their lifetime. The price of these emergency vet visits is increasing each year resulting in thousands of dollars in medical bills for pet owners. Just like any family member, you want to make sure your pets are covered in the event of a medical emergency and that you won’t be caught off guard with no way to cover the high costs.
How does it work?
Pet insurance plans are generally reimbursement plans. This means that when you take your pet to the vet, either for a routine check-up or an emergency, you will still be required to pay the bill upfront. You will then send the bill to your insurance provider, and they will reimburse you. It’s always a good idea to ask your insurance provider upfront about how claims are processed as well as the general time frame for reimbursement. If you are unable to cover the price upfront, some insurance providers will even work with you to reimburse you prior to the bill being paid.
5 things to consider before buying pet insurance
Pet insurance isn’t one size fits all, so consider these 5 things before purchasing a plan. Understand what you’re buying. Before purchasing pet insurance, do your research to find out what is covered and what isn’t. It’s always better to know what your plan covers in advance, so you never feel caught off guard or unprepared upon receiving a vet bill.
1. Understand what you’re buying. Before purchasing pet insurance, do your research to find out what is covered and what isn’t. It’s always better to know what your plan covers in advance, so you never feel caught off guard or unprepared upon receiving a vet bill.
2. Choose the right coverage for your pet or pets. Before jumping into a pet insurance plan, ask yourself what kind of coverage is right for you. When we think of pets we often think of dogs and cats, but you may need coverage for a bird, snake, or other exotic pet.
3. Pick a plan that works for you. Pet insurance comes in a variety of different plans. You will need to choose between standalone medical coverage or the added protection of additional wellness coverage. Keep in mind that premiums and deductibles vary from plan to plan.
4. Enroll pets when they are young and healthy. It’s important to know that pre-existing conditions are not covered by any pet insurer. Make sure to enroll your pets when they are still young and healthy to ensure you are receiving maximum coverage at a lower cost.
5. Get reimbursed for vet visits. Pet insurance policies will reimburse any eligible veterinary expenses based on a percentage of the treatment cost or at an annual benefit schedule. Talk with your insurance provider about how you can get reimbursed and what that process looks like.
For many, pets are more than just furry friends, so why not protect them like family. There’s no way to anticipate when or how your pet may become sick or injured, or how much it’s going to cost you. At the most, pet insurance could be a real lifesaver, and at the least, it promises peace of mind to any new pet owner.
Click here to start the process of enrolling in pet insurance with UWIB today!
Those of us at the forefront of insurance technology use and adoption have been saying for years that the entire industry needs to step up or get left behind.
We’ve been warning of a digital transformation, and it’s been happening – even if more slowly than some of us would have liked.
What none of us could have predicted was that a global pandemic would be the catalyst for change – forcing insurance companies and agents to adopt technology more quickly in one year than they had in the previous ten.
A recent survey conducted by KPMG shows that 85% of insurance CEOs said that the pandemic has accelerated their digitization initiatives with 78% saying that the pandemic has intensified their focus on creating a more seamless digital customer experience. Spending the better part of 2020 using digital technologies in all areas of life has set consumers’ baseline for a quality digital experience at an all-time high, leaving insurers looking for a way to keep up.
That’s where the idea of open API technology and platforms comes in. It allows insurers to share and access data and services with third parties. Through open APIs, insurers can share data with insurtechs, financial institutions, and other organizations that possess data useful in helping insurers more accurately gauge risk and supply personalized coverage. For long standing insurers facing increased competition from newer more digitalized insurtechs, the open insurance model provides a beacon of hope
What will open APIs look like in the insurance industry? Here are a few examples:
Embracing the open insurance model will require insurers to shed their long-standing
hesitations toward data sharing and begin operating with a partnership mindset. Gone are the
days of noncooperation, replaced now by the values of combined offerings and diverse
partnerships. In the end, not only will the insurance companies benefit by staying alive – and relevant – in a more “open” world, but so will the insured people and businesses who rely on the coverage provided by these insurance companies.
2020 proved that disruption is not always predictable. In a world that seems to be moving faster every day, you never know when the next seismic shift may occur. The one thing we know for sure is that the future of insurance will depend on insurers ability to deploy innovative models of open collaboration. As insurers continue advancing their digital strategy, they cannot afford to ignore the promise of open insurance.
At UWIB, we’re always watching the insurance and technology landscape to stay ahead of the curve and provide our clients with the best and most informed perspectives.
Interested in working with us? We offer a no-cost and no-obligation insurance review to see if your current policies are working for you.
As a business owner or member of leadership, the last thing you want to consider is that your employees could be committing theft or fraud against your company.
While rare, it does happen. Luckily, there are things you can do to prevent employee crime from happening in the first place. And, if it does occur, having the right insurance policy in place can be a lifesaver. Take this story of corporate fraud, for example:
Two employees at the Center for Toxicology and Environment Health in Arkansas were tasked with purchasing cellphones for employees and subcontractors. Over the course of years, these employees store over half a million dollars worth of tech products, sold them on the internet, and pocketed the money. Both recently pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and were sentenced to federal prison time and repayment of the stolen funds.
Sure these employees were “bad apples” – no doubt! But, company oversight was obviously lacking as well. Here are some tips to help prevent situations that lend themselves to fraud:
2. Monitor your bank and credit accounts and hire an auditor to conduct an investigation if anything does not appear correct
3. Work with an independent, third party auditor to routinely examine receipts and financial records for signs of fraud
4. Don’t rely on a single manager to oversee all financial matters: distribute responsibility across the organization for checks and balances
In addition, here are some signs that you can look for in employees that might indicate they are conducting, or planning to conduct, theft or fraud:
The truth is that oversight is the best way to prevent employee crime from happening to begin with. But, not all crime is preventable. So, what else can you do to protect yourself? Your business liability insurance may or may not include coverage for employee crimes. Make sure it does – and provides adequate levels of protection based on your business. Click here to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation insurance review and consultation!
But, their mass-production business model won’t be right for everyone
This month, e-commerce giant Amazon.com broke the news that it will be joining the insurance industry. The venture comes in the form of a partnership with digital insurtech company, Next Insurance. Through the partnership, members of Amazon Business Prime will be able to obtain a small business insurance quote from Next Insurance. Members will also have the chance to purchase general liability, professional liability, workers’ compensation, commercial auto, and tools & equipment insurance from Next Insurance.
All of this can be done, Amazon promises, without speaking to an agent (or any other human for that matter).
It’s not surprising that Amazon has figured out a way to get into the insurance industry. InsurTech – the intersection of Insurance and Technology – is growing at breakneck speed, backed by billions of investment dollars. The real question is, however, does the insurance world truly want to become more like Amazon?
For some businesses, Amazon’s insurance model will do just fine. Amazon is banking on the fact that many small business owners are looking for quick, easy, and (let’s just say it) cheap ways to get their insurance! Amazon’s existing infrastructure allows them to provide a distribution channel to rapidly get a lot of insurance policies in the hands of a lot of businesses.
It might sound appealing to get quick quotes and bind coverage without needing anyone’s help. However, many business owners can attest, having no one involved can be much less of a benefit when claims happen and you’re trying to navigate the confusing and overwhelming world of business insurance alone.
This is why I am confident that the true role of the independent insurance agent isn’t going anywhere. At United Western Insurance Brokers, we love technology. We use dozens of different tools to make our employees’ and our clients’ lives easier through connection and automation. However, we also know that no technology can replace the decades of expertise we have accumulated through our work in the industry. No technology can truly listen to our clients’ fears and concerns and guide them through the most important decisions they will face in their businesses and lives.
So, while the online retail giant may get a lot of things right (who doesn’t love 2-day, 1-day, or same-day shipping?), when it comes to business insurance, we think the true “Prime” experience is having access to a team of people who know their stuff and have your back.
If you agree, we’d love to talk!