Happy Valentine’s Day!

Sex Abuse Claim Laws Have Changed in 15 States

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According to The Insurance Journal, dated December 4th, 2019, fifteen states have revised their laws in the past two years extending or suspending statute of limitations to allow child sex abuse claims stretching back decades, unleashing potentially thousands of new lawsuits against the U.S. Roman Catholic Church.

Click here for the full story.

Giving Tuesday Is Here! What Will You Give?

 

GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world on December 3, 2019 and every day.

One of the best ways to give is to get involved is in your own community. We have supplied a link to a directory to help you find organizations, events, and ways to give back in your own community.

Thank you for giving! 

Happy Thanksgiving from Hawley & Associates!

All of us at Hawley & Associates would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

Our Holiday Hour Are As Follows:

Wednesday, November 27th, 2019 – Closing at 2 pm (PST)

Thursday, November 28th, 2019 – Closed

Quote for the Day

The Hardening Insurance Market – Three Things to Get You Through The Storm

Because insurance carriers are experiencing higher than expected losses, a hardening insurance market is rearing its ugly head. A hardening market means increased premiums and tighter underwriting requirements for many lines of coverage, including; commercial property, E&O, D&O, Auto and EPL. The 2017 hurricane season and the 2018 California wildfires resulted in a combined insured loss of more than 212 billion dollars and are major contributors in this turn.

One area being hit particularly hard is the adoption & foster care sector. Due to increased litigation, settlements and judgments, some carriers are now reluctant to offer broad coverage with high limits. Some carriers are even exiting these markets all together, making it much harder for some brokers to have access to carriers that are willing to write these risks, let alone even to provide a quote.

In a hardening market, there are three things that can help you ride out the storm:

1. Specialty Broker:Having a broker that specializes in your line of business and knows your unique risks and exposures is imperative in positively representing your best interest to the insurance carriers. Their specialty allows them stronger relationships with underwriters, greater negotiating power to lower premiums and access to more carriers than that of a generalist broker.  Remember, an insurance broker (vs. an agent) works for YOU, not the insurance carrier.

2. Risk Management:A clean loss history is always more favorable than a poor loss history. A poor loss history tells the carrier that you are a bad risk.  This can result in even higher premiums or worse yet a non-renewal notice. By designing and implementing a strong risk management plan, your broker can paint a positive picture to the insurance carrier and show that you are proactive in helping to eliminate or reduce your risk.

3. Don’t Hop Around:Believe it or not, jumping from carrier to carrier every year looking for the lowest price can cost you more in the long run. Carriers have been known not to quote simply for the fact that the insured is not loyal to any one carrier. Showing stability and loyalty (even if you have a loss and premiums increase) is a positive indicator in the eyes of the carrier.

Even in this hardening market, Hawley & Associates continues to exclusively serve the nonprofit and social service community.  Our specialty allows us broad access specialty markets & programs, including programs for hard-to-place risks, such as adoption & foster care.  Let our mission empower your mission!

Honoring All Who Served

Veteran’s Day was November 11th, so I am a little late in writing this post.  But, we didn’t want the day to go by without honoring all the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. We are forever grateful for your service and sacrifice.

2019 Wayne Hawley Giving Grant Winners Announced!

The Wayne Hawley Giving Grant is exclusive to Hawley & Associates’ clients, and has help support programs, projects and organizations whose focus is to benefit children, families, and our communities.

We would like to thank everyone who applied for the grant in 2019.  We had a record number of applicants and it was so difficult to make our selection!  Everyone was so deserving! Thank you to all our clients for the amazing things they are doing to help make the world a better place for so many. 

Please click here for information on this year’s recipients.

 

 

Agent vs. Broker – What Is The Difference?

The terms Agent and Broker are sometimes used in the same context, but in reality, they are quite different.  Both do act as a liaison between the insured and the insurance company, but the main difference is who they represent.

AGENT:

An insurance agent works for the insurance company.  They can represent one or more insurance companies and acts as an extension of those companies. They are authorized to bind or initiate coverage on behalf of the insured.

There are two types agents: Captive and Independent. A Captive agent sells insurance for one specific insurance company.  An Independent agent sells insurance for multiple insurance companies.  In essence, they do the ‘shopping’ for you.

BROKER:   

An insurance broker works for their clients.  They are an advocate and work in the best interest of their client, not the insurance company.

There are typically two types of brokers: Generalists and Specialists.  Generalists do not restrict themselves to certain industries or lines of business and sometimes consider themselves as a “one stop shop”.  They can insure gas stations, restaurants and even nonprofits.  With their book of business being so broad, it may be difficult for them to have the necessary knowledge and expertise into a particular industry or business, especially ones that are complex or have high risk factors.

A specialty broker does just that; they specialize or have a niche in a particular line of business or industry. They have access to a variety of markets, comparing multiple programs side by side. They generally have stronger relationships with underwriters and have a unique ability to negotiate for better terms and premiums. They will also have a better understanding of the exposures and various risks associated with a particular industry or business and can better recommend the specialized insurance solutions needed.

Happy Fall Y’All! Hawley & Associates’ 3rd Quarter Newsletter

Welcome to Fall!  

Please enjoy Hawley & Associates’ 3rd Quarter Newsletter.  If you would like to subscribe to our quarterly newsletter, please email us at info@hawleyandassociates.com.