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“Innovation is all about taking calculated risks and, as a newer member, COUNTRY Financial was able to quickly get up-to-speed with our products and move directly into testing.”

MALVERN, Pa. (PRWEB)
January 19, 2021

The Institutes RiskStream Collaborative™, the risk management and insurance industry’s largest enterprise-level blockchain consortium, recently announced COUNTRY Financial® won the consortium’s 2020 Innovator Award. This was the first year awards were granted within the consortium. The goal was to publicly acknowledge organizations that have shown exemplary support of the consortium’s mission throughout the year.

“Innovation is all about taking calculated risks and, as a newer member, COUNTRY Financial was able to quickly get up-to-speed with our products and move directly into testing,” said Christopher McDaniel, President of RiskStream Collaborative. “Because COUNTRY Financial quickly covered so much ground, they are now moving into testing First Notice of Loss Data Sharing with other members. COUNTRY has been a model member and an innovative contributor to the Collaborative.”

COUNTRY Financial joined RiskStream in early 2020 and has been very active over the last year, participating in member to member proof of insurance verification tests over the summer and FNOL data sharing tests in the fall. COUNTRY Financial team members have also been active within commercial lines working groups, assisting in application design and requirement setting.

“We’re extremely proud to earn such an award in our very first year with the consortium, and I’d like to thank our Innovation and COUNTRY Technology teams for pushing us forward into new and exciting areas,” said Jim Jacobs, COUNTRY Financial CEO.

“As we’ve worked toward a more cohesive, collaborative team at COUNTRY to help carry out our strategy and objectives to better serve our clients, we are excited to share and build upon our experiences,” added Brandy McNalis, Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at COUNTRY Financial. “We are excited about where collaborative innovation can take us, our clients and the industry as whole.”

The RiskStream Collaborative offers insurance solutions for personal lines, commercial lines, reinsurance and life & annuities sectors. Members (carriers, brokers or reinsurers) lead all areas of RiskStream’s governance and activity. For example, members work with RiskStream staff to design use cases on behalf of the industry and then work with RiskStream staff and service providers to monitor and test the build out of applications. The Collaborative aims to expand its network of members and connect insurance-oriented organizations in 2021 to create greater efficiencies and achieve growth opportunities through blockchain innovations.

About COUNTRY Financial®

COUNTRY Financial is a marketing name for COUNTRY Life Insurance Company®, COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company® and their respective subsidiaries, located in Bloomington, Ill. COUNTRY Financial serves about one million households and businesses throughout the United States and offers a wide range of insurance and financial products and services.

About The Institutes RiskStream Collaborative™

The Institutes RiskStream Collaborative™ is the risk management and insurance industry’s first enterprise-level blockchain consortium that brings together experts and developers to advance insurance-specific use cases via Canopy, a custom blockchain architecture. The RiskStream Collaborative is committed to equipping organizations to work together to inspire product innovation, enable efficiencies, and open new technological frontiers.

About The Institutes | Risk and Insurance Knowledge Group

The Institutes, the leading provider of risk management and insurance knowledge education and solutions, offer professional designations, including the CPCU® program. In addition, The Institutes provide introductory, foundational, and leadership courses and programs; online and continuing education courses; custom solutions; events and conferences; online and print news platforms; assessment tools; and research reports.

CPCU is a registered trademark of The Institutes. All rights reserved.

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As an existing member of the Benefit Advisors Group, CSNW Benefits has existing relationships with many Alera Group firms and an outstanding collaborative culture, making them an excellent fit for Alera Group.

DEERFIELD, Ill. and PORTLAND, Ore. (PRWEB)
January 18, 2021

Alera Group, a leading national insurance and financial services firm, today announced the acquisition of CSNW Benefits, effective December 31, 2020.

Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, CSNW Benefits serves clients throughout the Northwest region, creating tailored employee benefits and retirement services plans. Leveraging compliance tools, HR resources and outstanding customer service, the CSNW Benefits team brings clarity to the complexity of insurance. The firm serves clients in a variety of industries, with specific vertical expertise in manufacturing and non-profits.

“We are proud to welcome the CSNW Benefits team to Alera Group, and we look forward to their impact as they work with other firms throughout the West region,” said Alan Levitz, CEO of Alera Group. “As an existing member of the Benefit Advisors Group, CSNW Benefits has existing relationships with many Alera Group firms and an outstanding collaborative culture, making them an excellent fit for Alera Group.”

“Joining Alera Group is an exciting development for our firm, and we look forward to the ways this will allow us to strengthen our client service with national tools and resources,” said Dan O’Doherty, Managing Partner of CSNW Benefits. “As part of Alera Group, we will maintain our existing community relationships, while continuing to grow our business through collaboration.”

The CSNW Benefits team will continue serving clients in their existing roles. Terms of the transaction were not announced.

About Alera Group

Based in Deerfield, IL, Alera Group’s over 2,000 employees serve thousands of clients nationally in employee benefits, property and casualty, retirement services and wealth management. Alera Group is the 15th largest privately held firm in the country. For more information, visit https://aleragroup.com.

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“Finding the best car insurance deal can be a hassle that takes time for many drivers. However, brokerage websites will help drivers find the best insurance deal without wasting time”, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

LOS ANGELES (PRWEB)
January 15, 2021

Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that explains how drivers can compare online car insurance quotes.

For more info and free car insurance quotes online, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/how-to-compare-car-insurance-quotes/

Drivers who are looking for a car insurance plan while having a tight budget are less likely to have the time required to read the paperwork, look for the right agent, insurance company and the right insurance policy at the same time. To save time while looking for car insurance that can satisfy their needs, drivers can compare car insurance quotes.

To properly compare car insurance quotes, drivers should follow the next steps:

• Use a brokerage website. Brokerage websites are the best sources of online car insurance quotes. These types of sites are working with multiple car insurance companies. Using a brokerage website is quite simple. Drivers will only need to complete an online form with information about themselves, their cars, their driving history, and then wait for the results to be displayed. In most cases, drivers will obtain multiple insurance offers from multiple national and local insurance companies.
• Make a list of financial ratings. Some persons already know what coverages they want to buy from a particular insurance carrier. Others can be attracted by certain insurance providers that are offering special discounts to their profession or special fidelity bonuses. In both cases, drivers should make a list of insurance companies from where they want to buy from and compare their financial ratings and their insurance offers. Drivers can look for the financial rating of each insurer by checking the websites of various rating agencies like A.M. Best, Fitch, Moody’s, and Standard & Poor’s.
• Look online for an insurance agent. Drivers who prefer to work with an insurance agent can check several websites that will guide them to agents that work in their areas. Drives can check the agent’s recommendations and also they can choose an agent based on his specialization.

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

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“Car insurance is mandatory for any driver in the US. However, the minimum liability coverage is not enough in some situations, and the at-fault drivers will have to pay with their own money

LOS ANGELES (PRWEB)
January 18, 2021

Many drivers are wondering if the minimum car insurance is enough to protect them. The majority of them prefer to buy only the minimum required liability coverage. However, in some cases, the liability coverage will not be enough to pay for the costs to repair the damaged property or to treat the injuries of the victims of an at-fault accident. In these types of cases, a driver that caused an at-fault accident can get sued in order to pay from his pockets the costs that are not covered by minimum car insurance.

Before buying car insurance. drivers should consider the following:

• In case of an accident, drivers should purchase between $50,000 to $100,000 per person for bodily injury and the same amount for property damage liability, in order to avoid getting into a delicate situation. There are many drivers that don’t carry any form of insurance, or their coverage is not enough to pay the costs of a severe accident, so adding uninsured/underinsured coverage should be considered. Drivers should talk with their insurers to find out what will happen to them in the case they will be the victims of an accident and the other party doesn’t have enough coverage to pay for the repair costs and medical bills.
• Protect the assets. Policyholders that are involved in at-fault car accidents and have policies that won’t cover all the costs for the damage they’ve done, can get sued by the victims. If they don’t have enough money to pay for the additional expenses of their victims, then their asses will be seized. To avoid having their houses or cars taken away from them, drivers should purchase additional liability coverage that can protect the value of their assets combined.

For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

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“Patti is a well-respected leader in the private client insurance space in the Greater Toronto Area,” said Timmis. “Her expertise will complement our existing capabilities and drive growth in an important area of our business.”

NEW YORK (PRWEB)
January 14, 2021

NFP, a leading insurance broker and consultant providing corporate employee benefits, property and casualty (P&C), retirement, and individual solutions, today announced the acquisition of EdgeHill Insurance Brokers Ltd. (EdgeHill) in a transaction that closed on December 16, 2020.

EdgeHill, a P&C brokerage firm based in Toronto, Ontario, specializes in personal lines for high net worth clients, including home, auto, watercraft and personal excess liability, as well as commercial insurance and risk management services for a variety of industries. The acquisition of EdgeHill represents an opportunity for NFP to expand its expertise for high net worth clients in Canada, as well as incorporate additional service capabilities in its transportation and trucking specialty businesses. Patti Hull and Ross Schofield, principals of the firm, will join NFP as a vice president and a consultant, respectively. Hull will report to Brian Timmis, managing director of NFP in Canada’s Private Client Group.

“We’re thrilled to add the talent and relationships of the EdgeHill team,” said Greg Padovani, president of NFP in Canada. “Through this acquisition we extend our connection to the Ontario market, positioning ourselves to create new opportunities and deliver more value to clients. Across the business we’re building out our offerings and enhancing our capabilities in markets throughout Canada.”

“Patti is a well-respected leader in the private client insurance space in the Greater Toronto Area,” said Timmis. “Her expertise will complement our existing capabilities and drive growth in an important area of our business. As we continue to expand across Canada, we’re happy to continue welcoming local talent with the ability to provide the solutions our clients need.”

“NFP is focused on growth and delivering more value to more clients with an emphasis on building and maintaining relationships,” said Hull. “I’m excited to join NFP and contribute to their success in the Canadian market, while preserving a personal connection to my clients with a new level of resources and expertise to support their needs.”

About NFP

NFP is a leading insurance broker and consultant providing specialized property and casualty, corporate benefits, retirement, and individual solutions through its licensed subsidiaries and affiliates. NFP enables client success through the expertise of over 5,800 global employees, investments in innovative technologies, and enduring relationships with highly rated insurers, vendors, and financial institutions. NFP is the 5th largest benefits broker by global revenue, 5th best place to work in insurance and 6th largest US-based privately owned broker (Business Insurance); 9th commercial lines agency by P&C commercial lines revenue and 10th largest property and casualty agency (Insurance Journal); and 12th largest global insurance broker (Best’s Review).

Visit NFP.com to discover how NFP empowers clients to meet their goals.

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NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (PRWEB)
January 14, 2021

American Benefits Group (ABG), an integrated benefits solutions administrator, has been named a top 10 US benefits administrator and company of the year by Manage HR Magazine. The award recognizes innovative benefits administration consulting and services impacting the industry. ABG introduced a range of innovative solutions in the past year to earn this recognition.

ABG’s innovative offerings include a live streaming participant review portal that provides a constant stream of feedback on service delivery. With more than 7,000 five-star reviews to date, the portal delivers invaluable insight for ABG management, as well as constructive guidance and motivation for the customer advocacy and participant support teams who manage telephone and email support services. The Institute for Health Care Consumerism previously gave its innovation award to ABG for this portal.

In 2020, ABG introduced several innovative technology and service solutions focused on supporting both clients and employees. ABG released a groundbreaking AI-powered participant mobile application called Smart Account that delivers actionable insights and recommendations on health savings account spending and savings. Smart Account also offers transparency and consumer focused tools to guide decisions on both provider cost and quality. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, ABG created a special purpose disaster relief account under IRC section 139, which allowed employers to direct tax-free funds to reimburse employees for a range of out-of-pocket expenses incurred because of the pandemic.

“This recognition is the equivalent of a lifetime achievement award for our team and we’re honored to be recognized by our clients and colleagues for our industry innovation and operational excellence,” said Robert Cummings, founder and CEO of ABG. “From our founding as a pioneer of consumer directed account based plans more than 30 years ago, we’ve always maintained a passionate focus on empowering people with the freedom to succeed in their health care journey. As healthcare costs continue to rise and coverage options become more complex, ABG supports and guides individuals in making smart and strategic spending and savings decisions. We have always been 100% client-centered, employee-focused and participant driven. I credit the dedication and talents of the ABG management team with fostering a culture and environment that rewards individual and group contributions. I’m extremely proud of and thankful for our amazing team, whose talent and dedication make this possible.”

About American Benefits Group

American Benefits Group (ABG), is a subsidiary of NFP. NFP is a leading insurance broker and consultant that provides employee benefits, specialized property and casualty, retirement and individual private client solutions through our licensed subsidiaries and affiliates. Our expertise is matched by our commitment to each client’s goals and is enhanced by our investments in innovative technologies in the insurance brokerage and consulting space.

ABG delivers integrated benefits administration solutions for more than 1,800 private, public and non-profit organizations nationwide to increase employee participation and engagement in health care programs, promote health care consumerism and maximize tax savings for participants and employers. The company focuses exclusively on tax advantaged account based plans such as FSA, HSA, HRA and commuter benefit accounts, as well as COBRA continuation and direct billing administration services. ABG combines market leading technology with rich consumer engagement tools and a deeply robust client centric service delivery model. The company has achieved compound annual growth in excess of 20% per year for more than a decade running. The company is recognized in the December issue of Manage HR Magazine as 2020 Company of the year and is featured in the magazine’s profile as a Top 10 US Benefits Administrator.

About NFP

NFP is a leading insurance broker and consultant providing specialized property and casualty, corporate benefits, retirement, and individual solutions through its licensed subsidiaries and affiliates. NFP enables client success through the expertise of over 5,800 global employees, investments in innovative technologies, and enduring relationships with highly rated insurers, vendors, and financial institutions. NFP is the 5th largest benefits broker by global revenue, 5th best place to work in insurance and 6th largest US-based privately owned broker (Business Insurance); 9th commercial lines agency by P&C commercial lines revenue and 10th largest property and casualty agency (Insurance Journal); and 12th largest global insurance broker (Best’s Review).

Visit NFP.com to discover how NFP empowers clients to meet their goals.

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“Teens can get cheaper car insurance if they adopt safe driving habits and compare prices online”, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

LOS ANGELES (PRWEB)
January 14, 2021

Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that discusses the soaring costs of teen auto insurance and what options they have for making car insurance rates cheaper.

For more info and free car insurance quotes online, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/5-ways-to-get-cheaper-car-insurance-for-teens/.

Teens are automatically considered high-risk drivers. But this does not mean they do not have ways to lower the costs. They should follow the next tips:

• Attend a driving course. Insurance companies offer discounts that range from 10 to 15 percent to those drivers, including teens, that graduated a defensive driving course. The defensive driving course can take place in a classroom, or it can be delivered online, and it usually lasts four to eight hours to complete.
• Get a cheap car to insure. Choosing a muscle car, or a sports car will eiliminate the chances of getting cheap car insurance. Slightly used SUV’s, crossover’s, or even family van’s that have all the major safety features installed is the smart thing to do in order to get cheaper car insurance for a teen driver.
• Take advantage of the good student discount. Many insurance companies offer this discount. Statistics show that students that have better grades are less likely to be involved in car accidents. Students that have a 3.0 GPA or higher are eligible for this discount on most insurance companies.
• Consider usage-based insurance. The thought of being monitored while driving can be scary for many teen drivers, but in that way, they can obtain better premiums. All they have to do is to allow your insurer to install a small telematics device inside their vehicle. This device will then send data back to the insurer. Usually, the data sent back contains information about, how many miles are driven, time of day when the car is driven, braking, acceleration, speed, cornering, distance traveled. The policyholder will get a discount, based on how good his driving habits are.
• Compare online quotes. The best way to save money on teen insurance is by shopping online quotes. Get at least three quotes and start comparing them in order to find the best deal.

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/.

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

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