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
Read more
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%.
Few decreased rates
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
Read more
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.
- Log off all public computers. Using the public library’s computer is a good tool if you don’t have your own computer. But be cautious while you are using it. Make sure you log off from all of your programs and applications. Staying logged in may give the person who uses the computer after you, all the information they need.
- Change your passwords. Don’t write your passwords out for everyone to see. Keep your passwords in a safe location that only you know of. Every so often, change out your passwords. Hackers can get your information if you have a weak or the same password for everything.
- You fall for phishing scams. Phishing scams are commonly seen in your email. You receive a notification from your bank telling you that you have a problem with your account, and they need you to sign in. Don’t fall for it! Those are scams trying to get your information. You may also find emails that say you’re entitled to a large sum of money when some unknown relative in a distant country died and left you all of their fortune. If you don’t know this unknown relative, chances are they never existed, along with this large inheritance.
- Get that paper shredder out. Don’t just throw out papers with your personal information on it. Shred them.
- Shop on secured sites. Make sure when you do your online shopping the address starts with https://. Make sure your anti-virus program is up to date.
- Don’t give out information over the phone. If you get an unsolicited call from your bank or credit card company chances are, they are scammers.
- Hold on to your belongings. Keep your bag and your phone with you at all times. It may seem like a quick trip to the store and, “Why not? I’ll be out in a jiffy.” Problem is, it takes just a jiffy for thieves to break into your car and grab your belongings. It’s not worth it.
- Don’t text confidential information. Your phone can easily be hacked by hackers. Keep your confidential information off the phone.
- Don’t store your personal information on your computer. If your computer gets stolen, so does all of that information.
- Public WiFi. Don’t use public WiFi to do transactions. It’s never a good idea, your information is out there and ready for others to grab a hold of.
Keep your personal information safe and out of the hackers grasp.
Content provided by Transformer Marketing.
Read more
Commercial insurance is a must-have for every business. Some businesses have specialty needs for additional commercial insurance that are not covered under the standard policy.
Maybe you have had some changes in your business. You have recently purchased delivery vehicles, you have expanded your business and purchased more property. There are any number of possible changes that have occurred to your business that would require an analysis of your commercial insurance policies.
Your cash flow has changed
You have two forms of payment for your insurance, a regular monthly payment and a deductible that you will need to cover for damages and/or injuries before your provider will start to cover anymore. The monthly payment you can factor into your standard business finances. You will need to be diligent in planning for the unknown.
The more cash you have readily available, you should think about increasing your deductible. Higher deductibles will decrease your monthly premiums, and you will be able to save money. Make sure the deductible will be affordable, just in case.
Lower your deductible so that you can pay as needed if you are short on cash. Contact our office so that we can shop around for the best deal possible and discuss bundling options.
Congratulations! Your business is thriving!
Your business has increased since the last time you sat down with your agent. You’ve hired more people, added a delivery service and more! That means that your insurance will need to change also.
Start with your workers compensation and disability insurance policies. Make sure that your employees are covered, and your policies are up to date.
You’ve added a fleet! You will need to get your vehicles insured under a commercial auto policy.
You are remodeling or moving
Commercial property insurance comprises an important part of your overall insurance needs. If you are expanding or moving, you will need to contact our office to do a review of your new /improved digs and the policies. Please remember that any changes you make, will affect your coverage and costs.
Content provided by Transformer Marketing.
Read more
Happy Holidays!
Read more
“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.” – Burton Hillis, columnist and author”
It all starts with Black Friday, Cyber Monday and spills over daily through Christmas Day. Shoppers toughing out the crowds, beating down the doors to get the best prices they could get their hands on. You spend your time and money (and sanity) to get everything on your loved ones’ list.
But what happens after Christmas?
The credit card statements start trickling in one by one. All those wonderful things you had purchased for your family need to be paid in full. You silently wonder, ‘Did I go overboard?’ and that little voice in your head says, ‘Nah, did you see their faces?’ And you go on about your day content that you had done the right thing.
The excitements of those gadgets wear off before you have paid off your credit card. This holiday season we have listed a few tips so that you don’t break your bank.
- Cut up those credit cards. You will be paying much more than the $18.99 you paid for that doll in the long run. Use your debit card or plain hard cash. You’ll save yourself the interest rate payment.
- Budget…and stick to it! You don’t have to go overboard. Your wallet will feel better in the long run if you say to yourself, “I’m sticking to this budget. Everyone will enjoy what they get.”
- BOGO Combo Deals! I just purchased a pair of much needed winter boots and then I saw the sign, “Buy 1 pair of shoes and get the 2nd pair for $1!” Needless to say, I took them on their offer. Finding deals like that means you can buy two gifts for one.
- Compare prices! There are several shopping apps that you can easily download and do comparison shopping before making any purchases.
- Nothing says LOVE like a homemade gift. Get your creativity on and have some fun. Knit those sweaters, bake that incredible dish, host a huge party, or design a beautiful portrait. Your hard earned time means more to your loved ones than anything your hard earned money can buy.
This Christmas make sure that Santa’s bank is as satisfied as your loved ones are.
Content provided by Transformer Marketing.
Read more
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.
