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Specializing in small to mid-size risks, from traditional to hard to place, our Property and Casualty division can help you. Over the years we have developed the expertise to solve your client’s property risk challenges and have the niche to meet their needs.

Specializing in small to mid-size risks, from traditional to hard to place, our Property and Casualty division can help you. Over the years we have developed the expertise to solve your client’s property risk challenges and have the niche to meet their needs. Your client has specific needs when it comes to their Property and Casualty needs, and we can deliver!

U.S. farmers last week finalized their crop insurance plans for spring planting with critics of the government-subsidized program saying insurers are set up for a bonanza after passage of the new five-year farm bill last month. Farmers who sign up for crop insurance by March 15 won’t, in fact, enjoy the enhanced subsidies of the new federal law, which go into effect with the 2015 crop year. But grain farmers in 2014 will still see up to two-thirds of their insurance premiums paid for by the government. Private insurance companies will also still benefit from the government as their “reinsurer,” an arrangement critics say limits their losses while boosting underwriting gains. With the new farm bill, the government’s largesse gets even bigger next year. “I think taxpayers lost on that farm bill for sure. There was lots of money that could have been saved to reduce the deficit, but they chose not to,” said Bruce Babcock, an agricultural economist at Iowa State University who has studied crop insurance for more than a decade. “The industry lobbies heavily,” Babcock told Reuters. “It’s just rub my back, I’ll rub yours.” A new farm bill was held up for more than a year by wrangling over cuts in food stamps and subsidized programs for the poor. Backers also touted cuts in direct payments to farmers estimated by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) at $40 billion over 10 years. But 80 percent of those savings—some $33 billion, according to CBO data—reappear in the new farm bill as “enhanced” crop insurance, reformers say. “The crop insurance program survived essentially unscathed in this farm bill,” said Craig Cox of the Environmental Working Group, which sees U.S. farm policies as wasteful to taxpayers. “This was the first farm bill where there was a lot of attention paid to trying to reform the crop insurance program. None of those reforms made it into the final bill.” Crop insurers, on the other hand, praised the new law. “For the taxpayer, it eliminated direct payments and reduced some of the price support policies of the past in favor of expanding crop insurance, which is purchased by farmers on an individual basis,” David Graves, president of the American Crop Insurance Association, said in a written response to questions. “For crop insurance companies, the farm bill underscored the fact that crop insurance is the top risk management tool for America’s farmers and ranchers.” Read the entire article here. Content provided by:  http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2014/03/17/323445.htm

The new U.S. farm bill is already a year behind schedule so what's one more month?  Negotiators said that the work for the legislation to cut food stamps for the poor and expand crop insurance for farmers won't be completed prior to Congress adjourning for the year.  This farm bill will cover topics from farm exports and food aid to crop subsidies. The delay is nothing new for the farm bill.  Since mid-2012 Congress has asked for massive cuts in the food stamp program.  The House is asking for the largest amount of cut with a $40 billion cut over the course of the next ten years.  The Senate is a little more liberal with a recommended cut of $4.5 billion. According to Insurance Journal, “We will be ready to vote in January,” Debbie Stabenow, who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, told reporters." Many components of the farm bill are up in the air, including food stamps. The Proposal The new farm bill would spend some $500 billion over five years, three-quarters of it on food stamps. Specifically, the Insurance Journal reports, "Both chambers would trim spending on traditional farm subsidies, conservation programs and food stamps, while expanding outlays for crop insurance by up to 10 percent. One crop insurance proposal would assure grain and soybean growers of up to 90 percent of average revenue from a crop." Read the entire article here. Content provided by http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2013/12/11/313908.htm

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More and more businesses are offering workers quality legal services as a voluntary employee benefit, according to a nationwide survey of more than 300 human resource and benefits professionals. The study, sponsored by MetLife, found that the top reasons for the popularity of these services were improved employee satisfaction (69%) higher retention and loyalty (44%), and the ability to compete with other companies' benefit programs (32%). A majority of survey respondents cited these benefits of Group Legal plans: Helping employees achieve peace of mind when dealing with legal issues. Reducing employees' levels of stress. Lowering the cost of legal services. Minimizing workplace time in dealing with personal issues. Providing quality legal services (57%). More than 90% of survey respondents found that legal plans are easier, or as easy, to administer than other voluntary benefits plans. These programs also have high persistency rates for both employers and employees. Says Bill Brooks, CEO of Hyatt Legal Plans, "This is a benefit that spans the generations and suits a diverse workforce because there's a broad range of situations where an attorney can help. Legal assistance at a cost of less than some attorneys may bill per hour can be an effective way to generate employee loyalty." There's a clear need for this coverage: According to the American Bar Association, 71% of people encounter a legal problem every year. Will preparation and estate planning are the most frequently offered services under Group Legal plans, followed by family matters, home purchases and sales, and credit problems, among others. If you'd like to add a comprehensive, cost-effective Group Legal plan to your voluntary Employee Benefits portfolio, please free to get in touch with the professionals at our agency. As always, we're here to help!

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