2019
Regulation Acceleration
With the 2018 mid-term elections over, the Democratic Party leadership has indicated that the House Financial Services Committee will broadly focus its legislative agenda toward protecting consumers and investors, preserving financial sector stability, and encouraging responsible innovation in financial technology. Meanwhile, we expect that the Republican-controlled Senate will continue to focus its legislative agenda on remaining refinements not already addressed in the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (EGRRCPA) passed in 2018. Beyond the divided Congress, we note that the regulatory agencies are now all led by President Trump appointees who have discretion, subject to Congressional oversight, to calibrate their supervisory policies and programs.
At the Intersection
Cannot resist using this space, in which insurance and its intersection with social trends comes to you fortnightly, to note that social civility and successful insuring are related, even interdependent on so many levels. When I read of an utter disgrace – such as the bills providing for late term, I mean late, late term […]
New Year Update on New York State and New York City Employment Laws
Recently, both New York State (“NYS”) and New York City (“NYC”) have enacted a significant number of new employment and labor laws. The update summarizes the key laws insurance industry employers should be following and the penalties for violations. While NY is a leader in this area of progressive employment practices, neighboring states have similar […]
PIANJ Supports Producer Duty-of-Care Bill
Trenton, N.J.—The Professional Insurance Agents of New Jersey submitted written testimony to support S-2475, which would prohibit application of a fiduciary standard to insurance producers, before the state Senate Commerce Committee on Jan. 17. The bill is sponsored by Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney, D-3, and Senate Commerce Committee Chair Nellie Pou, D-35. The bill […]
The Human Touch
There are plenty of people ready to write off the independent agent as a dinosaur headed for extinction but nothing can be further from the truth. If forced to admit it all these naysayers know that independent agents have one overpowering secret and that is the human touch they provide. It’s no secret that the […]
Ready for Spring?
By Sue C. Quimby, CPCU, AU, CIC, CPIW, DAE – Assistant Vice President/Media Editor – MSO, Inc. Whether the groundhog does or doesn’t see his shadow, spring will arrive before long. With warming temperatures come potential hazards to your insureds. Helping clients navigate and prepare for the issues that come with the spring thaw is […]
SterlingRisk Hires Guthart as President, CMO
Woodbury, NY—Sterling-Risk Insurance, one of the nation’s top independently owned insurance brokerages, has hired Steven Guthart (pictured right) as President and Chief Marketing Officer. Guthart brings more than 30 years of industry experience and technical expertise to SterlingRisk, having built robust senior carrier relationships during his tenure as President, Brooklyn Operations, with HUB International Northeast […]
Physicians Ask Senate Finance to Address Kickbacks, Other Factors Driving Up Drug Costs
Citing unaffordable costs of common, essential drugs such as insulin, the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) provided testimony for the Jan 29 Senate Finance Committee hearing on high drug prices. The answer is not a government-run pharmaceutical industry, but rather unleashing the “competitive market forces that provide abundant options and push prices down […]
Insurance Professionals Honored with PIANY Scholarships
GLENMONT, N.Y.—The Professional Insurance Agents of New York announced Kevin O’Neil and Timothy McGrath each received the prestigious Bernard I. Kozel Memorial Scholarship, Jan. 31, 2019, at the Metropolitan Regional Awareness Program at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York. O’Neil is an account executive and McGrath is a producer for Marian Farese Insurance in West […]
