In the world of home renovations, raising a house 10 feet off the ground is no easy task. This ambitious undertaking not only demands expertise in engineering and construction, but it also necessitates strict adherence to insurance regulations—especially in New...
Where the legal risks lurk in human resources: Reduce the risk of wage-and-hour violations
As an employment lawyer and human resources expert spending my career working with businesses of various sizes, I believe the single most important thing employers can do is make sure they are handling their employees’ wages properly. When people’s livelihoods are...
Premium trust accounts and commissions
On the most basic level, choosing a career as an insurance producer means having the opportunity to sell insurance products to clients. However, deciding to become an insurance producer also means signing up for a heightened level of responsibility, which means acting...
N.Y.: Noncompete ban bill vetoed by governor
A noncompetition agreement, or noncompete agreement, is nothing new in the world of business. These agreements prohibit an employee from working for competitors or opening competing businesses, typically for a certain period of time after an employee leaves a job. In...
New year, new beginnings: Reflecting, pausing, and progressing toward your goals
As the year draws to a close and a new one peeks over the horizon, a familiar feeling washes over us—the urge to reflect, pause and set goals for the future. This introspective period, often fueled by the festive spirit and the clean slate of a new year, is an...
Think twice before you reply with an emoji … it could be a binding contract
Let’s face it … technology can be hard. Especially when you have no idea what things mean. Remember when Gen Z unofficially deemed millennial use of the 😂 emoji as “not cool,”[1] or dare I say…cheugy?[2] Or when almost every older-generation dad got called out...
Legislation to combat residential fires passes N.J. Senate
Nearly a decade ago, New Jersey witnessed the inherent dangers posed by rapidly spreading fires—the catastrophic 2015 Avalon Apartment fire in Edgewater, which thankfully caused no injuries or deaths. However, the incident still lingers vividly in the minds of the New...
Just starting out … what’s your business structure?
When starting an insurance agency, one of the first key decisions is choosing a business structure that aligns with your goals. This critical choice impacts liability protection, startup costs, administrative duties, taxes, raising capital, and planning for the...
The industry’s role in making the world greener
While the insurance industry has yet to publicly and explicitly acknowledge global warming and the importance of protecting the environment, actions taking place within the industry—which are related to industries and governments—are indicative that a shift is...
So, your car hits a guardrail … who pays for it?
A few months ago, an accident occurred right outside of the PIA Northeast office. A car traveling northbound on I-87 appeared to lose control and hit the guardrail. It careened across the southbound lane and stopped in the shoulder. The car suffered heavy damages and...