In the insurance industry, rules, laws and regulations play a vital role in ensuring fairness and transparency. For insurance companies operating in Connecticut’s admitted and nonadmitted marketplaces, staying compliant with the law is not only a legal obligation, but...
Will the government reclassify marijuana?
On Aug. 30, 2023, Secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra authored a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration recommending that marijuana be reclassified from a Schedule I to Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act....
N.Y.: Call to action: Insurance agents assemble
The 2023 New York legislative session was a successful one for independent insurance agents. In 2023, PIANY saw not one, but two, of the association’s top priorities pass the Legislature! The advocacy of insurance agents, like yourself, has been critical in getting...
Five ways to attract and keep top insurance agency talent
Building a strong team is a crucial part of running a successful independent insurance agency. This is especially true in times of economic uncertainty. Having the right people in place can help your agency continue to win when things get tough. With recent shifts in...
Stay competitive with modern benefits
In the AppleTV+ show Severance, employees are split—their personal selves literally are left at the door when they swipe in for work. As they get to their desks, employees transition into their work selves, leaving the burdens of their personal lives at the door. In...
Water you mean I’m not covered? Navigate the flood insurance knowledge gap
The summer of ’23 has brought disastrous weather events in almost every region of the country. The Northeast faced record-breaking flooding. Vermont received two months’ worth of rain—more than nine inches—in just a few days. More than 4,000 homes were damaged by...
N.Y.: Supplement spousal liability: A history
Strangely, the legal concept of spousal liability has been in the news recently. This is due to a recent change in New York state law that will now require all auto insurance policies issued in the state to provide coverage for supplemental spousal liability—unless a...
Hard market and adverse actions
When the market hardens, insurance carriers often will attempt to reduce their expenses and exposures in a variety of ways. Sometimes, those ways are overt like nonrenewing policies or filing for rate increases. Other times, the cost-cutting moves can be more covert...
Explainer: New N.J. credit card surcharge law: What it means for agencies
Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation into law that prohibits businesses, including insurance agencies, from imposing certain surcharges on credit card transactions. What does the new law do? The new law prohibits a business (referred to as “sellers” in the...
Shark attacks: If you’re not with Jason Statham, an insurance policy may be the next best thing
If you are brave enough to have bought a ticket to Jason Statham’s latest action thriller, Meg 2: The Trench, then you might be familiar with what it would be like to take on a band of oversized, murderous sharks and other sea creatures in the pursuit of ocean...