Thought for the day-Opportunities
Last week Governor Jerry Brown declared California is in a drought. A drought simply stated is a shortage of precipitation, whether it comes from rain or snow. There just simply isn’t any moisture in our lands. Problems that can stem from a drought can become catastrophic. Withered crops, high fire dangers, water shortages and livestock dying are just a few of the effects that a drought has on our land. Unemployment is another effect that a drought will bring. The loss of crops means no employment. In 2009, about 10,000 people lost their job due to the drought.
According to Brown, who was in San Francisco last week, “The drought accentuates and further displays the conflicts between north and south and between urban and rural parts of the state. So, as governor, I’ll be doing my part to bring people together and working through this.”
During this dry season, the rest of us need to be diligent as well. Conserve as much water as we can, including washing dishes all at once, don’t light fires when you’re camping and use only propane stoves. Right now, California is in danger of becoming a matchbox just waiting for the match to strike.
According to 58 year old Kevin Kester, “I am a fifth-generation cattle rancher, and it has never been this bad ever in my lifetime — and from my family’s history, it’s never been anywhere close to this bad ever.” The last drought that was comparable to the one we’re in now, according to his family’s history was in the 1890’s.
Contact us today for a quote for your agribusiness.
Content provided by Transformer Marketing and http://www.register-pajaronian.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=15820&page=72
Pricing for workers compensation insurance continued to harden in California during the first half of 2013, according to a report published Wednesday by SNL Financial L.C.
California’s 10 largest workers compensation insurers by premium volume, which account for roughly 60% of the state’s marketplace, increased their rates an average of 4.3% during the first half of the year, based on filings for new business effective between Jan. 1 and July 1, according to SNL Financial’s report.
Excluding a 7% decrease filed in March by the State Compensation Insurance Fund, which is the state’s largest workers comp insurer, the average rate increase among California’s market leaders through July 1 was 5.9%. Within that group, the largest rate increases belonged to American International Group Inc. and Liberty Mutual Holding Co. Inc., which submitted rate hikes of 10.0% and 10.9%, respectively.
Statewide, rates for new workers compensation accounts were at their highest in February, when insurers in California filed average rate increases of 9.8% on $1.1 billion in premiums written, according to SNL Financial’s report.
At least 20 insurers in California included in SNL Financial’s analysis filed rate increases of 15% or more for new business in the first half of the year. Seven firms — including units of Liberty Mutual, CNA Financial Corp. and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. — filed rate increases of 20% or more, while units of Hanover Insurance Group Inc. and American Financial Group Inc. filed rate increases in excess of 30%.
Only a handful of companies included in SNL Financial’s analysis reported rate decreases in the first half of 2013. Among them was Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange, Church Mutual Insurance Co. and units of Nationwide and Utica National Insurance Group.
California’s workers comp market has been particularly bothersome for Tower Group International Ltd., SNL Financial said in the report.
Tower Group cited market conditions in California, where roughly 44% of the company’s workers compensation premiums are written, as one key driver behind the $326.7 million reserve charge it reported in its second-quarter earnings statement. Several of the company’s operating units in March were granted rate hikes of 6.2% for new business in California, and one unit — Preserver Insurance Co. — filed a rate increase of 17.1%.
Read the entire article here.
Contact Scurich Insurance Services today at 831-722-3541 to find out how we can assist you with all of your business insurance needs including workers compensation.
Content provided by http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20131218/NEWS08/131219828?tags=%7C338%7C309%7C305%7C87%7C304%7C92
This weekend we will crown the 2013 AFC and NCF champions and then the two teams will go head to head on February 2nd at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to become the coveted 2013 Superbowl Champions.
San Francisco 49ers
Once again we find the 49ers back in the running to the NFC championship and quite possibly the Superbowl. Jim Harbaugh joined the 49ers in 2011 after winning the Orange Bowl. That year was an anticipated rebuilding year with not much expected. However, Jim brought the 49ers to a 13-3 season winning the NFC West division. In the 2012 season, Jim took a chance and replaced starter Alex Smith with the backup quarterback, Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick proved to be a more powerful asset as a starter than as a backup. The 49ers won the NFC championship and went on to the Superbowl.
Seattle Seahawks
Pete Carroll has developed the Seahawks into a formidable football machine. Pete joined the Seahawks in 2010 coming from the head coaching job at USC. Pete also took the reigns of becoming the Seahawks executive vice president of football operations at the same time. In the first year of Carroll’s leadership, the Seahawks struggled, however still managing to become the first 7-9 team to win the division title by beating the Rams. In 2011, the Seahawks had the same 7-9 stats but lost to division rival, 49ers and did not make it into the playoffs. In 2012, the Seahawks’s turned things around with a 11-5 record in the regular season. Seattle lost to the Falcons in the 2012 playoffs.
The Showdown for the AFC: Broncos v. Patriots
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos started this season with a 9-0 record. Peyton Manning is playing his best this year coming after 4 neck surgeries and having to relearn how to throw the ball. The Broncos this year are 13-3 in the regular season. With great ease in the first three quarters in the game against the Chargers, they seemed to have the game in the bag. The Chargers came back, but the Broncos held on tight to win the game. Manning brought the Broncos to the playoffs in 2012, however lost to the Baltimore Ravens in double overtime.
New England Patriots
Tom Brady and the Pats are no stranger to the playoffs. The Pats have been in the playoffs every year since 2009 and winning the AFC in 2011. Being 12-4 in the regular season, the Pats have been a formidable force in the AFC. The Pats won by a field goal when the Broncos met them at Gillette Stadium in November. This time the Pats are heading to Mile High Stadium where the Broncos have home field advantage.
Bottom Line
Any rivalry game is going to be an exciting game. These two are no exception. Carroll vs. Harbaugh and Manning vs. Brady.
The NFC championship game will be marked with a formidable rivalry that will prove to be an exciting game. The Seahawks will have home advantage but will that be enough to beat the 49ers who have beaten the Seahawks in the regular season?
The Pats narrowly won the game against the Broncos in the regular season and with home field advantage. Manning is playing his best, and he is ready to win. One thing is for sure, both teams are eager for another shot at the Superbowl.
To top it off both home team stadiums have limited ticket sales to the surrounding areas. Sorry, 49er and Patriots fans, you’ll have to cheer your team on from your home.
Content provided by Transformer Marketing.
“If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend six sharpening my axe.” Abraham Lincoln
Identity theft is moving a lighting speed. Credit scores get destroyed, bank accounts and investments get heisted, and people’s lives are ruined. And it’s so swift, it’s practically unnoticeable until you get to the bank.
Unfortunately, you may be giving the thieves everything they need to take everything you have. Here are a few tips that you can start doing today to protect yourself from identity theft.
Keep your personal information safe and out of the hackers grasp.
Content provided by Transformer Marketing.
Scurich Insurance Services
Phone: (831) 661-5697
Fax: (831) 661-5741
Physical:
783 Rio Del Mar Blvd., Suite7,
Aptos, Ca 95003-4700
Mailing:
PO Box 1170
Watsonville, CA 95077-1170
E-mail address:
[email protected]
Available 8:30am - 5:00pm