“The members of the agency’s team are excellent business partners, providing quality, professional service to all clients they serve,” says Frankenmuth Insurance President and COO Fred Edmond.

MAUMEE, Ohio (PRWEB)
April 17, 2020

Savage McVicker Insurance of Maumee, Ohio has been named “Diamond Achiever” for the state of Ohio by Frankenmuth Insurance for the second year in a row. The award is presented to the state agency that attained the highest overall percentage rating in profitability, growth and policy retention during the past year.

The results achieved by the team at Savage McVicker Insurance in 2019 have helped the agency once again become one of the most successful of Frankenmuth Insurance’s more than 600 independent agencies.

“We are proud to present this award to the management and staff at Savage McVicker Insurance,” says Frankenmuth Insurance President and COO Fred Edmond. “The members of the agency’s team are excellent business partners, providing quality, professional service to all clients they serve.”

To learn more about Savage McVicker Insurance, find them on Facebook or visit http://www.savagemcvicker.com.

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Frankenmuth Insurance has been providing peace of mind for families and businesses for 150 years. Because insurance is both complicated and critical to people’s lives, Frankenmuth works exclusively with 645 independent agencies to provide business, home, auto and life insurance policies. With more than 750 employees, the company is headquartered in Frankenmuth, Michigan, and offers insurance products in 15 states. Frankenmuth Insurance is financially sound, with $1.7 billion in assets. The company has an A.M. Best rating of “A” (Excellent) and is a Ward’s 50® Top Performer. For more information visit fmins.com.

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“The members of the agency’s team are excellent business partners, providing quality, professional service to all clients they serve,” says Frankenmuth Insurance President and COO Fred Edmond.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (PRWEB)
April 17, 2020

The DeHayes Group of Fort Wayne, Indiana has been named “Diamond Achiever” for the state of Indiana by Frankenmuth Insurance. The award is presented to the state agency that attained the highest overall percentage rating in profitability, growth and policy retention during the past year.

The results achieved by the team at the DeHayes Group in 2019 have helped the agency become one of the most successful of Frankenmuth Insurance’s more than 600 independent agencies.

“We are proud to present this award to the management and staff at the DeHayes Group,” says Frankenmuth Insurance President and COO Fred Edmond. “The members of the agency’s team are excellent business partners, providing quality, professional service to all clients they serve.”

To learn more about the DeHayes Group, find them on Facebook or visit http://www.dehayes.com.

Frankenmuth Insurance has been providing peace of mind for families and businesses for 150 years. Because insurance is both complicated and critical to people’s lives, Frankenmuth works exclusively with 645 independent agencies to provide business, home, auto and life insurance policies. With more than 750 employees, the company is headquartered in Frankenmuth, Michigan, and offers insurance products in 15 states. Frankenmuth Insurance is financially sound, with $1.7 billion in assets. The company has an A.M. Best rating of “A” (Excellent) and is a Ward’s 50® Top Performer. For more information visit fmins.com.

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“These are some of the ways the Farm Bureau Insurance companies can give back to the communities we serve, and we are happy to fulfill that obligation of service.”

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (PRWEB)
April 16, 2020

Media Contact:

John Holdsworth, State Sales Manager

Florida Farm Bureau Insurance Companies

John.Holdsworth@ffbic.com

The Farm Bureau® Insurance Companies in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina Unveil Coronavirus Customer Assistance Program

Policyholders receive $30 million one-time credit, community food banks receive $2.3 million donation.

The Farm Bureau Insurance companies, leading providers of property and casualty insurance in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina, are offering a variety of financial assistance measures in response to unexpected hardships for their customers and the communities they serve due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak—including a one-time estimated premium credit of $30 million to policyholders, and donation of $2.3 million to local food banks across their six state footprint.

“Everything we do is built around helping people. Insurance is a safety net designed to provide people comfort and peace of mind in the face of adversity—and now more than ever, people need to feel that peace,” said Steve Murray, President & CEO, Florida Farm Bureau Insurance Companies. “These are some of the ways the Farm Bureau Insurance companies can give back to the communities we serve, and we are happy to fulfill that obligation of service.”

One-Time Premium Credit*

The Farm Bureau Insurance companies are distributing a one-time credit to all personal auto policyholders. This special credit is based on 15 percent of two months auto premium paid for each vehicle covered—an estimated value of about $30 million. No action needs to be taken by the customer to receive this special assistance. The Farm Bureau Insurance companies will simply credit their customers’ next invoice after the program begins.

Feeding Families

Farm Bureau’s founding mission is to feed and support the families that put food on our tables. In an effort to hold true to the core values of their organizations by providing relief to their communities in a time of need, the Farm Bureau Insurance companies have jointly decided to donate $2.3 million to local food banks across their six-state footprint.

Additional Payment Accommodations

In addition, as of April 8, fees charged for insufficient funds whether returned checks or electronic funds transfers, will be waived for all insureds, and any premium adjustments made based on the number of insufficient funds will be waived until September 1, 2020.

Other options being offered to insureds on a case-by-case basis include:

• Extending due dates to allow their customer to make a partial payment
• Adjusting an individual’s payment schedule based on their current budget so that the insured can keep coverage in force
• Adjusting the billing dates to allow for flexibility in making payments

Customers are allowed to make payments of multiple payment types (cash, check, credit card) and that will continue to be available. EFT also continues to be available for eligible accounts.

*All changes subject to regulatory approval.

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Despite the severity of the situation, employers are promoting resilience through EAP and wellness resources, and where onboarding can continue, turning to virtual methods.

DEERFIELD, Ill. (PRWEB)
April 16, 2020

COVID-19 is leading many employers to implement or re-evaluate their infectious disease response plans, ramp-up their employee communication efforts, and offer flexible work arrangements to address childcare and remote work challenges, a new Alera Group study finds.

The Alera Group COVID-19 Employer Pulse Survey explores the impact of the pandemic and offers insights into how employers throughout the country and in various industries are navigating employee health, benefits and human resources issues in the changing landscape.

The study identified five key findings:

• Over 50% of employers surveyed with 100 or more employees will implement formal infectious disease policies as a result of COVID-19.
• Most employers, regardless of size, region, or industry, are educating their employees several times a week about prevention techniques, COVID-19 symptoms and employee benefits.
• Hiring freezes and social distancing measures are prevalent and layoffs and furloughs are rising as a result of shutdowns.
• The majority of employers surveyed are allowing employees to use their paid time off and some are assisting with childcare issues. Telemedicine is becoming more of a focus.
• The impact of COVID-19 varies by industry, with manufacturing, non-profit, healthcare, professional and finance/insurance organizations having a slightly more positive outlook.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is raising questions among employers about employee benefits policies and coverages as a result of remote work arrangements, childcare challenges, and furloughs,” said Sally Prather, National Employee Benefits Leader at Alera Group.

“Despite the severity of the situation, employers are promoting resilience through EAP and wellness resources, and where onboarding can continue, turning to virtual methods,” said Karen English, Senior Vice President at Spring Consulting Group, an Alera Group company.

Continued English, “As employers work to navigate this current crisis, proactive response planning, re-evaluating benefits policies and plans, and leveraging health and benefits technology will be keys to preparing for future wide-spread disruptions.”

The Alera Group survey was conducted online from March 27 to April 6, 2020, and consisted of 831 employers across various sizes, industries and regions. Visit the Alera Group website to read the report: https://aleragroup.com/coronavirus/.

About Alera Group

With over 80 firms across the country and nearly 2,000 teammates, Alera Group works together to deliver solutions in employee benefits, property and casualty, retirement services and wealth management. Built on a unique model of collaboration, Alera Group is now the 17th largest independent insurance agency in the United States. For more information, visit aleragroup.com.

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“We know these are tough times for employers, and we look forward to bringing them some peace of mind and solutions during these trying times.”

BOSTON (PRWEB)
April 16, 2020

Payroll Management Inc. (PMI), an online payroll and HR software that provides payroll, tax administration, human resources, employment practices, employee benefits, workers’ compensation, time and labor solutions, recently partnered with Enquiron® to launch the PMI Employer Resource Center. In these unprecedented times, PMI is more dedicated than ever to its clients, and the PMI Employer Resource Center exemplifies that.

All PMI clients will be personally introduced to a variety of human resource content, tools, advice and resources, including training courses, personalized alerts, policy-building software, and more. Enrolled clients will also have the ability to ask questions to employment law attorneys, who will be able to quickly answer questions that many employers have at this time, including leaves of absences, sick-time, telecommuting, and others.

“In our commitment to provide and maintain a full suite of workplace solutions we are pleased to announce our PMI Resource Center. This will provide our valued clients state of the art access to current and changing employment law and human resource guidance. Now more than ever we think this is the time to be forward thinking and proactive in this historical environment,” said Chris Hedges, CEO of Payroll Management Inc. “Our newly dedicated PMI Resource Center is powered by Enquiron. Since 1996, Enquiron has been a trusted consultative business solution to hundreds of thousands of employers in 50 states. We strongly recommend this offering as a Best Practice Solution.”

“We know these are tough times for employers, and we look forward to bringing them some peace of mind and solutions during these trying times,” said Mike Naclerio, President & CEO of Enquiron. “PMI wants to support their clients on the front-lines of these employment challenges, which is why they launched the PMI Employer Resource Center. We look forward to the opportunity to help PMI’s clients, point them in the right direction, and offer essential guidance.”

ABOUT PAYROLL MANAGEMENT INC.

PMI was formulated with the concept of combining the products and services of a national payroll company with unparalleled client support. Through years of experience PMI has developed a systematic and consultative approach to providing payroll and human resource solutions. With a broad product line and a certified, knowledgeable staff, PMI provides organizations an outstanding end user experience on both management and employee levels.

ABOUT ENQUIRON

Enquiron, http://www.enquiron.com, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, provides consultative business solutions to employers in all 50 states, across various industries, sectors and sizes. Since 1996, Enquiron has revolutionized the way that services impacting Human Resources, Employment Law, Healthcare, Retirement, Cyber Security and more are delivered to and utilized by employers. Enquiron has locations across the United States and is a trusted partner to organizations who need specific answers to specific questions. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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This new policy meets a real and urgent need and should be made permanent,” Dave Rich says

CLEARWATER, Fla. (PRWEB)
April 14, 2020

In an effort to prevent healthy and sick Americans alike from visiting doctors’ offices in person and risk potentially spreading or contracting the novel coronavirus, the Trump administration recently announced that Medicare will now cover the costs associated to doctor appointments done via phone or videoconference.(1) “This new policy meets a real and urgent need and should be made permanent,” says Dave Rich, CEO of Ensurem, LLC—a leading online multi-carrier insurance brokerage.

In addition to Medicare’s new coverage of telehealth services, a number of deregulatory steps are being taken or considered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) during the COVID-19 crisis to expedite the delivery of care to those in need:

• 
  Given the danger of virus and its burden on the nation’s healthcare providers, Americans are overwhelmingly postponing or cancelling elective surgeries. The 5,000 or so idled surgery centers in the U.S. could be used for critical but time-consuming cancer therapies, freeing hospital space and staff to focus on the coronavirus.
• Paraprofessionals—for example, nurse anesthetists—could function “at the top of their license”, providing anesthesia in surgery without supervision, allowing anesthesiologists to serve in intensive care.
• Emergency healthcare workers have been permitted to screen patients using telehealth outside the emergency room, reducing the number of ER personnel requiring scarce protective equipment. (2)

To better provide for the healthcare needs of both seniors and others as well, Rich suggests that in addition to medical services (such as telehealth screening), the insurance purchase process should be automated. Just as there is a shortage of ER-admitting doctors, there is a growing scarcity of insurance agents in the U.S. (3), which slows down the process of accurately evaluating and purchasing life and health insurance, thus contributing to the nation’s devastatingly high medical bankruptcy rate. (4)

Even with Ensurem’s state-of-the-art technology, Rich notes the application process is only partly digital. Customers must still speak with an agent before they can buy coverage online. However, Rich says it may soon be possible to eliminate the need for human involvement via web-based tools, predictive analytics, and direct access to the necessary personal data to match a person to a product and price.

“This is a problem Ensurem was created to solve,” Rich says. “We are a technology company that is working with insurance companies to build the analytic tools to determine the best price for seniors and all our other customers, and the educational tools to allow them to compare their options in real time.”

About Ensurem

Ensurem, headquartered in Clearwater, FL, is a leading technology and product distribution company serving carriers and consumers within the massive U.S. senior market. The company provides end-to-end solutions for carriers, including product development, digital marketing, and consumer-centric front ends and back end. For more information, visit http://www.ensurem.com. 

1. Facher, Lev, “Trump lifts restrictions on telehealth services for seniors in hopes of limiting coronavirus spread,” Stat News, March 17, 2020, statnews.com/2020/03/17/trump-telehealth-restrictions/.

2. Kelly, Mary Louise, “To Stop the Pandemic, Seema Verma Is ‘Getting Rid Of A Lot Of Regulations,’” NPR, March 31. 2020, npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/31/824484234/to-stop-the-pandemic-seema-verma-is-getting-rid-of-a-lot-of-regulations.

3. “Insurers, Brokers, and Agents Need to Prepare for Looming Talent Shortages,” WEX Health, September 5, 2017, wexinc.com/insights/blogs/health/insurers/.

4. Konish, Lorie, “This is the real reason most Americans file for bankruptcy,” CNBC, February 11, 2019, cnbc.com/2019/02/11/this-is-the-real-reason-most-americans-file-for-bankruptcy.html

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We are excited to welcome Remmie and the entire team as Alera Group’s first P&C firm in the greater Washington, D.C. area.

SILVER SPRING, Md. and DEERFIELD, Ill. (PRWEB)
April 14, 2020

Alera Group, a national employee benefits, property and casualty, retirement services and wealth management firm, today announced that it has acquired Georgetown Insurance Service, Inc. (Georgetown Insurance), effective March 1, 2020.

Headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, Georgetown Insurance has served clients throughout the state and the surrounding region for decades. Georgetown Insurance works closely with the construction, manufacturing, real estate and transportation industries, in addition to providing their clients with specialty offerings and enhanced services.

“Georgetown Insurance Service, led by Remmie Butchko, is a fantastic addition to Alera Group as we continue to serve clients and enhance their experience with Alera Group,” said Alan Levitz, CEO of Alera Group. “We are excited to welcome Remmie and the entire team as Alera Group’s first P&C firm in the greater Washington, D.C. area.”

“Georgetown Insurance Service has been focused on building lasting local relationships with our clients while serving them with unparalleled service. Becoming an Alera Group company allows us to continue on that path, now with more resources than ever before,” said Remmie Butchko, CEO of Georgetown Insurance. “We are thrilled to join Alera Group and look forward to the collaboration ahead.”

The Georgetown Insurance team will continue serving clients in their current roles. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Alera Group

With over 80 firms across the country and nearly 2,000 teammates, Alera Group works together to deliver solutions in employee benefits, property and casualty, retirement services and wealth management. Built on a unique model of collaboration, Alera Group is now the 17th largest independent insurance agency in the United States. For more information, visit aleragroup.com.

M&A Contact

Rob Lieblein, Chief Development Officer

Email: rob.lieblein@aleragroup.com

Phone: 717-329-2451

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Professional advisors engage during an NSSA Social Security certificate program.

… this is an excellent opportunity for advisors to own their own Social Security Help Centers (SSHC)– a revolutionary lead generation tool we offer to advisors that results in additional clients and revenues.

CINCINNATI (PRWEB)
April 14, 2020

The coronavirus has closed Social Security Administration offices nationwide, emphasizing the need for National Social Security Advisors competent in the Social Security program to help workers maximize Social Security.

Marc Kiner, partner at Premier Social Security Consulting in Cincinnati, said folks preparing for retirement seek competent Social Security advice.

“While it’s unsettling that all Social Security offices are closed,” said Kiner, “this is an excellent opportunity for advisors to own their own Social Security Help Centers (SSHC)–a revolutionary lead generation tool we offer to advisors that results in additional clients and revenues.”

To use the Social Security Help Centers tool, advisors—financial advisors, insurance agents, CPAs, attorneys, and enrolled agents– must be educated and knowledgeable about the Social Security program, said Kiner. Premier teaches the National Social Security Advisor (NSSA) certificate program to advisors so they can in turn counsel clients on how to maximize Social Security benefits.

The Social Security Help Centers lead generation tool is a great asset for advisors as folks across the country are seeking out competent and educated advisors about Social Security benefits, he said.

Every day, 10,000 people in the U.S. turn 65 years old. “Folks close to retirement this year will be Googling questions on Social Security,” said Kiner. “We purchased the SSHC tool so our NSSA advisors can use it to help promote their knowledge and competency in this area. Prospects will also receive a free retirement planning book.”

Kiner had a 39-year career as a certified public accountant and sold his CPA firm in 2012 to create Premier with business partner Jim Blair. Blair was a 35-year Social Security Administration employee and SSA branch office manager.

The men coined the phrase “Situational Social Security” because everyone has a unique Social Security situation that warrants scrutiny in order to create the optimal plan to maximize benefits. Whether a person is single, married, divorced, widowed, has dependent children or is a public employee can determine which plan is optimal, said Kiner.

“No matter what situation our NSSA advisors come across with their clients, we can help,” he said.

“The Social Security scenario for older workers is complicated further by the fact that staff at Social Security Administration offices do not counsel or give advice,” said Blair. “They will generally only take your application and answer simple questions. It’s up to each individual to ultimately do the research and decide when and how to access Social Security. That’s where NSSA comes in.”

People work their entire adult lives and deserve to retire with the maximum amount of Social Security benefits due to them, said Blair. “Yet it’s estimated that 90 percent of retirees claim Social Security too soon or fail to coordinate spousal benefits, which can leave up to $200,000 on the table over the course of a 20-year or even longer retirement,” he said. “NSSA can help advisors make sure retirees reduce the chance of folks outliving their money.”

The NSSA program is the nation’s only accredited Social Security certificate education program. Accreditation is from the Institute for Credentialing Excellence in Washington, D.C. More than 2,100 professional advisors nationwide have taken the NSSA program, passed an assessment and earned the NSSA certificate. The NSSA certificate denotes advanced Social Security education and knowledge.

Premier Social Security Consulting teaches the NSSA Social Security Advisor certificate program live to advisors in 10 cities nationwide this year. Live classes are taught in-person during one, all-day session. Premier also offers web-based training workshops for advisors participating in a live, one-day program with an NSSA instructor; and in a 19-module, video-based, on-demand course taught by NSSA instructors. On-demand students can complete workshop lectures and activities at their leisure.

NSSA certificate holders receive ongoing support and resources throughout the year. Ongoing support includes questions answered and monthly webinars. The webinars help NSSA certificate holders maintain Social Security knowledge and keep up to date.

Premier also offers private, on-site classes for organizations that need to provide in-house Social Security training to multiple professional advisors, said Kiner. Costs vary for each type of instruction and additional, ongoing support, with pricing listed on the Premier website.

Premier is dedicated to educating and supporting NSSA advisors as they navigate the Social Security system and counsel clients on maximizing Social Security benefits. Premier has a number of strategic partnerships and partners that make it the nation’s more effective Social Security education program for professional advisors, said Kiner.

The Wealth Engineering Institute in Orlando, Fla., recently announced its selection of Premier Social Security Consulting as the exclusive provider of Social Security consulting and educational services for its network of over 2,100 wealth management firms, investment and insurance advisors, CPAs and attorneys.

“We’re excited to add Premier to our expert sourcing team,” said Nick Gregory, CEO and managing partner at WEI. “Social Security consulting and education are extremely important for advisors serving the needs of 76-plus million baby boomers. Social Security knowledge is a necessity when it comes to comprehensive financial management. Premier Social Security Consulting’s national presence and expertise in this market make them a natural fit for our team.”

For information about The Wealth Engineering Institute, call (407) 878-3520.

For information about Premier Social Security Consulting, visit http://www.premiersocialsecurityconsulting.com.

To learn about the National Social Security Advisor certificate program and a complete listing of services and prices, visit http://www.nationalsocialsecurityassociation.com or http://www.premiernssa.com or call Kiner at (513) 218-8505.

###

Contact: Marc Kiner

Premier Social Security Consulting

Email: mkiner@mypremierplan.com

Phone: (513) 218-8505

About Premier Social Security Consulting:

Premier Social Security Consulting, LLC of Cincinnati educates professional advisors nationwide on the national Social Security program so they can counsel their clients on how to maximize Social Security income. Partners Marc Kiner and Jim Blair teach the NSSA Advisor certificate program.

About the National Social Security Advisor program:

Marc Kiner and Jim Blair are partners at Premier Social Security Consulting of Cincinnati, which teaches the National Social Security Advisor (NSSA) certificate program. NSSA is the nation’s only accredited Social Security education certificate program.