Mold has been a part of our environment for millions of years, and there are more than 100,000 mold species naturally occurring on Earth. While mold spores are tiny in size, they can mean big trouble for hotels and resorts. Mold has consistently been a loss leader for the hospitality industry insurers, but its impact has expanded over the last few years, with primary claim drivers including undetected HVAC or plumbing system issues, construction defects, and catastrophic hurricane and flooding a...
Mar 24, 2021•18 min
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers moved quickly to develop and implement remote work-from-home protocols to protect employees. Almost a year since it all began, employers are starting to develop return to work plans. Well-known finance giants, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan Chase, are delaying their return after initially attempting to bring workers back near the end of 2020 only to send many workers home again after employees tested positive for the virus. Other large companies ...
Mar 04, 2021•36 min
The property market remains challenging in 2021. How are agents, wholesalers, and markets dealing with the hard market? We discuss a wide range of issues surrounding the difficult Property market. Featuring: David Pagoumian is the President of the CRC Red Bank, NJ office. David specializes in property placements and is an active member of the Property Practice Advisory Committee. Subscribe to Tools & Intel (email newsletter) Read Past Tools & Intel Articles Follow CRC Group on LinkedIn V...
Feb 18, 2021•23 min
This is the state of the market for property in the northeastern United States, including trends about rates, capacity, limits, and COVID-19. 2020 was a very different year for property insurance. The industry weathered COVID-19, the elections, a record number of named storms, wildfires, and more. As we begin 2021, it's a great time to discuss the state of the market for property. In the coming weeks, we will release more information about the state of the market for all of CRC Group's major lin...
Jan 19, 2021•23 min
This is the state of the market for property in the central and southeastern United States, including trends about rates, capacity, limits, and COVID-19. 2020 has been a very different year for property insurance. The industry has weather COVID-19, the elections, a record number of named storms, wildfires, and more. As we approach the end of 2020, it's a great time to discuss the state of the market for property. In the coming weeks, we will release more information about the state of the market...
Dec 17, 2020•26 min
Casualty capacity is shrinking and the market remains challenging. How are agents, wholesalers, and markets dealing with the hard market? We sit down with two CRC Casualty specialists to discuss a wide range of issues surrounding the difficult Casualty market. Featuring: Vladimir Peraza Casualty and Property Broker from CRC New York Stewart Brown Transportation and Casualty Broker from CRC Seattle Subscribe to CRC Group on Youtube Subscribe to Tools & Intel (email newsletter) Read Past Tools...
Dec 11, 2020•24 min
A growing number of organizations are using biometric data, such as fingerprints and retinal scans, as a convenient way to improve security. From touchpads that unlock smartphones and computers, to scanners providing access to places of business, biometric data seems to be a fast, easy and secure way to authenticate individuals and unlock access. Download a Shareable PDF Version of this Article The risks of collecting and storing biometric data, however, are high, and they require closer scrutin...
Nov 20, 2020•18 min
Everyone knows the fine print matters, but it is especially important when it comes to the additional insured endorsements sometimes requested by partners. Clauses requiring such endorsements can be expensive in ways insureds may not realize. Understanding the hidden costs of an additional insured endorsement can keep an insured from unfairly paying for another’s mistakes or unintentionally elevating insurance costs. Contractual provisions requiring additional insured endorsements can vary, and ...
Nov 12, 2020•16 min
Fifteen years into the soft market cycle, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Medical Professional Liability (MPL) market is turning around. Many will remember that the Long-Term Care (LTC) market began to show signs of hardening in 2017, and the Hospital segment began to follow suit in the second quarter of 2019. While the Facilities and Physician segments have lagged behind, they’re also turning the corner toward a firmer market. While the COVID-19 pandemic is to blame for many current ch...
Nov 03, 2020•28 min
During economic slowdowns, including the global coronavirus pandemic, many insurance buyers are tempted to pare the size of their programs. With the property and casualty insurance marketplace hardening across virtually all lines, the cost of maintaining existing levels of coverage is going up. Deciding to buy less liability coverage, however, may be a big mistake. Subscribe to CRC Group on Youtube Subscribe to Tools & Intel (email newsletter) Read Past Tools & Intel Articles Follow CRC ...
Oct 15, 2020•28 min
Allegations of police officers’ excessive use of force reached a flashpoint in 2020, igniting massive protests and riots across the nation. As officers in several cities face criminal charges in fatal interactions with suspects, one might expect civil liability claims against those individuals to follow. In fact, that is not the case. For various reasons, public entities bear the liability risk for police department actions. And that exposure is becoming more difficult to transfer. Subscribe to ...
Sep 15, 2020•21 min
Concerts. Festivals. Fairs. Sporting events. Live theater. Corporate events. Whether it is indoors or outdoors, we love to be entertained and inspired. We thrive on learning from experts and hearing from speakers we admire. And this is why the events industry is enormous. In the United States, business meetings, conferences, tradeshows and the like provided over 5.9 million jobs. Event Cancellation Insurance coverage can help to limit the risk for those unforeseeable circumstances like illness o...
Aug 21, 2020•19 min
Subscribe to CRC Group on Youtube As Hurricane Isaias impacts the US, coastal homeowners rely on insurance agents to find competitive coverage. We discuss how insurance agents can better serve their clients in a tough market for placing coastal homeowner insurance. The 2020 hurricane season stormed in with a record six named tropical storms by early July. But in addition to forecasts for an active storm season, coastal homeowners from Florida to Texas are facing sharp rate increases as insurers ...
Aug 03, 2020•16 min
A supervisor at a midsize business is watching the evening news when she sees a disturbing video of people smashing windows and looting stores in the city where her company is based. What she sees next shocks her: one of the looters is not wearing a face mask, despite the coronavirus, and she realizes as he passes the camera that he’s one of her longtime employees. This scenario is fictitious but could become real for many employers, following massive protests against racial injustice and police...
Jul 20, 2020•20 min
In this episode, we discuss personal lines flood insurance with Argenia’s Ben Tschepikow. Personal Lines Flood has a reputation of being a particularly time consuming or difficult coverage to place for agents, leading many to skip working on this type of insurance altogether. Agents should revisit this coverage due to recent updates to technology and the continued evolution of the private flood market. Episode Links: Argenia CRC Group Personal Lines Practice CRC Group Personal Lines Producers Su...
Jun 26, 2020•18 min
In this special episode, we provide helpful information for behavioral healthcare providers to better mitigate the risks associated with telemedicine. The impacts of COVID-19 have changed the way we approach much of life, including how Americans receive healthcare. Social distancing, intended to “flatten the curve” and prevent further spread of the coronavirus, has dramatically expanded the use of telemedicine in the area of behavioral healthcare. It has become vital to engage with patients by t...
Jun 10, 2020•30 min
Because property premiums are based on the value of the property, many insureds have sought to save money over the years by reporting lower values. While that tactic can bring cost savings in the short term, it works against the longer-term best interests of both the insured and the industry. Should a catastrophe strike, a business that’s underinsured may not have sufficient funds to rebuild or make it through an extended shutdown. BOTTOM LINE Risk cannot be adequately managed without a true pic...
Jun 02, 2020•17 min
Securities litigation is a hot area of insurance due to recent trends that show record numbers of lawsuits and increasing severity of settlements. In this episode, we explore trends in securities litigation with specialists in securities law, research, and E&S insurance. Featuring: Garrett Koehn , Western Regional Director, CRC Group Jason Hegland , Stanford Law & Stanford Securities Litigation Analytics (SSLA) Marc Casarino , Partner, White and Williams, LLP In this episode: 3:11 Broad ...
May 27, 2020•44 min
When asked to list their most valuable assets, many people would place a home, car, or 401K at the top of the list. And they’d be wrong. While those are important - even vital - pieces of living life, a person’s most valuable asset is actually the ability to make a living, working to pay their mortgage, fuel their vehicle, and fund that retirement account. If unexpected illness or injury derails those efforts, life quickly begins to unravel on all fronts. Research indicates that millions of Amer...
May 20, 2020•16 min
The first quarter of 2019 saw the excess and umbrella markets start to move toward tighter underwriting, and each quarter since has seen the market get firmer. The second half of the year brought greater capacity restrictions, higher prices, and significant challenges around program structure, due in large part to nuclear jury awards that have hit excess and umbrella lines like never before. Brokers that succeed in 2020’s changing market will depend on creativity, proactive strategic planning, a...
May 13, 2020•18 min
The earthquake market has moved onto unstable ground as insurers and alternative capital investors demand higher returns on their capital. Rate increases have ramped up over the last year, and buyers should expect higher prices this year for the same coverage. Higher deductibles can be an effective strategy to manage premiums. Buyers who can provide better and more detailed information on their risks can expect a better reception from underwriters. Early and active marketing and working with a b...
May 11, 2020•17 min
In insurance, hard markets present hard choices. Policyholders often face sharply higher rates and tighter terms and conditions at renewal, along with exclusions their expiring liability coverage did not impose. In these situations, incumbent carriers may offer an extended reporting period (ERP), which lets insureds file claims after the original policy’s expiration date. Buying an ERP, however, has significant risks that insureds and their agents should consider. Featuring: Mike Robison is a Se...
May 07, 2020•15 min
As Americans grow increasingly anxious about the impacts of COVID-19 and public life is limited by social distancing, food production demands are changing. Product sales at retail locations are reaching unprecedented levels. This doesn’t mean people are eating more – just that they’re eating at home due to the closure of restaurant dining rooms and other public spaces. Changes in the food distribution system can lead to changing or different exposures. Chris Martin, a CRC Broker who specializes ...
Apr 30, 2020•19 min
Michelle Foster Earle , CEO of Omnisure , an independent Health-care risk services consulting group, shares some advice and answers to common questions she is getting in the wake of Coronavirus. Lee McClure from CRC Birmingham updates us with the latest Healthcare Facilities insurance information; what we know and what we don't know. He tackles everything from Healthcare Facilities insurance limits to capacity and claims. Subscribe to Tools & Intel CRC Group Online Visit REDYIndex.com for cr...
Apr 27, 2020•28 min
As businesses of all sizes strive to protect their employees and preserve cash flow during the coronavirus pandemic, likely the last thing on most of their minds is employment practices liability (EPL) exposures. But EPL risks are higher during pandemics and other periods when employers are more likely to furlough, lay off or ask employees to work from home. Despite federal legislation aimed at relieving financial burdens on workers and their employers, many businesses face difficult choices – a...
Apr 23, 2020•17 min
Subscribe to Tools & Intel CRC Group Online Featuring: Brennan Paris - Director of Carrier Distribution Bob Greenebaum - Casualty Practice Leader Paul Martin - Property Practice Leader Mike Robison - ExecPro Practice Leader Neil Kessler - Chief Operating Officer CRC Group is placing you first before, during, and after the Coronavirus pandemic. We talk with leaders from CRC Group to learn more about the various initiatives the company is taking with carriers and in property, casualty, and pro...
Apr 21, 2020•19 min
Subscribe to Tools & Intel CRC Group Online Featuring: Jason Lewis who is the Healthcare Practice Leader for CRC Group based in Denver, CO. Andrew Sheeley , a founding partner of Sheeley LLP, a full-service defense litigation firm in New York, NY with extensive experience in Healthcare. We examine the host of legal issues emerging as a result of Coronavirus with Andrew Sheeley. You'll hear updates about the latest state and federal executive orders, both planned and enacted. Also, Andrew pro...
Apr 20, 2020•22 min
Subscribe to Tools & Intel CRC Group Online Featuring: Cushman Andrews who is a Senior Vice President and Casualty Broker with CRC Group’s Chicago, Illinois office. Bob Greenebaum who is an Executive Vice President, Central Region Director, and Casualty Practice Leader with CRC Group’s Chicago, Illinois office. Scott Tracy from AFCO Insurance Premium Finance Business Repurposing COVID-19 has infected millions of people and has taken so many lives around the globe. Unwilling to stand by and d...
Apr 16, 2020•24 min
Subscribe to Tools & Intel CRC Group Online Featuring: Amanda Harvey, Partner with the Lawfirm of Mullen Coughlin Sebastian Swain , Broker with LA Execpro As COVID-19 continues to spread across the U.S., organizations and businesses are taking seriously their responsibility to facilitate social distancing as we attempt to slow the spread of the virus. While there are many benefits to working remotely in the current situation, remote work can place greater strain on IT systems and increase cy...
Apr 10, 2020•31 min
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is now widespread in the United States. CRC Group Healthcare specialists discuss what the current insurance situation looks like for Healthcare facilities, and what the future will bring. They comment on COVID-19 exclusions and if they will hold up in court. Also, they cover reporting Coronavirus to carriers and the likelihood of lawsuits for Healthcare facilities that experience an outbreak. Finally, the team discusses Carriers changing the way they underwrite around the ...
Apr 03, 2020•21 min
