Des Moines Register 12/21/11 Adam Belz Tornadoes and other storms slammed U.S. insurance companies throughout 2011, and homeowners’ premiums are starting to rise as a result.  Many Iowans are seeing double-digit increases, and a few will pay premiums more than 20 percent higher when it’s time to renew their policies.  Why are homeowners in regions [...]

1.           IMMEDIATE NOTICE – Report claims within 24 hours of the injury.  Require employees to report incidents within that timeframe and report them to your insurer immediately – even if for Notice Only on medical only claims.  Statistics overwhelmingly confirm that claim costs are reduced if this step is followed.  2.         DIRECT MEDICAL CARE – [...]

1.           COMMITMENT – Make a commitment company-wide to implement Best Practices to promote the health and safety of each employee while reducing the costs associated with workplace injury. 2.         STATE OF HIRE – Reduce the odds of a claim being filed in the state of Illinois (if you are an Iowa-based employer) by requiring Illinois [...]

Staying safe during your commute can be a challenge, especially when it involves an unexpected deer or other animal running across the road. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly one-quarter of all animal and vehicle crashes result in some form of bodily injury or vehicle damage. Whether you’re doing city or [...]

Cyber Crime is here and it is not going away.  A common scheme is for criminals to obtain enough information to log in to your on-line banking system or fool your bank into transferring funds from your account.  Because the “crime” takes place using your own computer system and not the bank’s system, this risk [...]

The Illinois legislature recently passed HB1698 (2011 Illinois Workers Comp Reform).  While we would have liked to have seen more out of this bill, it is definitely a step in the right direction. Changes include:     Reduction of the Medical Fee Schedule rates by 30% Tightening of guidelines for permanency ratings Reducing compensation in select [...]

If this is the year you are going to improve your lawn follow these tips to get the most out of your time and effort.  Aeration: Aerate your lawn with a plug or deep-time aerator.  A common misconception is that aeration itself helps relieve the compaction and allows oxygen to permeate down to plant roots. [...]

A vacation should be a pleasant experience for you and your family and a time for relaxation and enjoyment. It can also be the time for crime victimization if appropriate crime prevention measures are not followed. Take a few simple steps to reduce the possibility of a burglarized house while you are away. The following [...]

Warning Signs: Sounds too good to be true. Pressures you to act “ right away.” Guarantees success. Promises unusually high returns. Requires an upfront investment – even for a “free” prize. Buyers want to overpay you for an item and have you send them the difference. Doesn’t have the look of a real business. Something [...]

In recent years, there has been a major push by many states to collect use tax on consumers. The states feel that they are losing out on a large amount of money due to the fact that taxpayers are not paying use tax. What is use tax? Use tax is a form of sales tax designed to [...]