February, 2024

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Time to review Gross Rentals Values

Prof. Allan Manning

One of the ever increasing costs of being a landlord, particularly in Victoria is land tax and property rates. The values of properties are being reviewed by state governements and/or local councils and it is going up year on year. Another trick that some States Governments have introduced, and I again use Victoria as an example is that the property owner only has 60 days in which to lodge an appeal.

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Court Finds Policy Term, “Windstorm,” to be Ambiguous in Coverage Dispute Involving Tornado

The Property Insurance Law Observer

In Mankoff v. Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (2024 WL 322297 (Tex. App.—Dallas Jan. 29, 2024)), the Court determined that the term “windstorm” was ambiguous as utilized in the subject insurance policy. The insureds suffered property damage caused by a tornado and subsequently submitted a claim to their insurer. The insurer paid only a portion of the claim because it maintained that the tornado that struck and damaged the property was a “windstorm” and, therefore, the claim was subjec

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New USPTO AI-Assisted Invention Guidance Will Affect Retailers and Consumer Goods Companies

Hunton Andrews Kurth

In our client alert, A Brief Explanation of the USPTO’s Useful New AI-Assisted Invention Guidance , we discuss the Inventorship Guidance for AI-assisted Inventions , 89 Fed. Reg. 10043 (Feb. 13, 2024), recently released by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The guidance provides inventors and patent applicants with a framework regarding AI-assisted inventions and how inventorship of such will be judged at the USPTO.

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Affordable Housing Insurance Challenges: Understanding the Market

Scott Insurance

Whether you are an owner, developer or property manager working in the affordable housing industry, you are undoubtedly facing challenges related to your insurance program that are impacting your business strategy and bottom line. Understanding the root causes of those challenges will equip you to find solutions that work for your organization. The Hardening Property Insurance Market Since 2017, the property insurance market has been hardening, resulting in lower available limits, higher deducti

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What is the Best Insurance for Yoga Teachers in 2024?

Top Insurance Blogs

Over 800 searches are made every month regarding what the best insurance for yoga teachers/instructors is. In response, Google Search is giving them over 100 million search results just because they are looking for the best yoga insurance. If you are one of the instructors who already understand why every yoga teacher needs yoga insurance coverage, I’m sure you will be pretty confused in finding the right answer on Google right now.

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Why Retail Cyber Insurance Is Non-Negotiable

ProWriters

Taking a retail business online opens up many opportunities for entrepreneurs and consumers. An online retail platform allows retailers to tap into a global marketplace without the overhead costs of a physical store. Customers from anywhere can access products with the click of a button. However, a digital storefront has its pitfalls. As our shops go virtual, so do the risks.

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Tax-Free Wealth: Muni Bonds & Life Insurance Strategies

The Insurance Pro

Building a substantial wealth portfolio involves strategic planning and understanding of various financial instruments. Tax-free wealth strategies are essential to this planning, offering avenues to grow your investments while legally reducing taxes. By employing tactics focusing on tax-exempt securities such as municipal bonds and considering life insurance policies with cash value components, you can enhance.

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Does Being “Left to Guess” Establish Standing for Injunctive Relief After TransUnion?

Hunton Andrews Kurth

In recent years, consumers filed a spate of class actions claiming that retailers misrepresented the retail price on discounted goods to mislead consumers into thinking they were obtaining a bargain. Many of those cases settled or were dismissed for lack of injury because plaintiffs failed to allege that the purchased item was deficient in an objectively identifiable way.

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Winter Weather Safety: Preventing Slip and Fall Injuries

R&R Insurance

As the cold weather sets in, it's crucial to be aware of the dangers that come with it, especially the risk of slip and fall injuries. At R&R Insurance, we understand the importance of safety, which is why our loss control consultant, Nick Steiner, is here to share some valuable tips to help you navigate the icy conditions safely. The Cost of Complacency In 2021, the average claim for slip and fall injuries was nearly $50,000.

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Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in Florida 2024

Top Insurance Blogs

Sorting through the list of top homeowners insurance companies in Florida can be a challenging task due to the variety of options available. This is why I have taken the pain to craft this publication on the best homeowners insurance companies in Florida this 2024. It is undeniable that homeowners and landlords in Florida have suffered devastating damages to their homes.

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From Conversations to Clues: How SaaS CSMs Unlock Client Insights

InsuredMine

In the dynamic world of SaaS, understanding your customers is the difference between a fleeting fling and a lifelong love affair. And who sits at the heart of this understanding? Your Customer Success Manager (CSM). CSMs are more than just customer cheerleaders; they’re data detectives, mining interactions for valuable insights that fuel product improvements, drive strategic decisions, and ultimately, ensure customers reach their full potential.

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Is the Indemnity Period long enough

Prof. Allan Manning

In the claims we are handling we are seeing more and more that the Indemnity Period runs out before the business returns to normal. This is due to a number of issues including but not limited to: Inordinate delays by local councils granting approvals. Often for the most ridiculous of reasons. This is magnified making it hundreds of times worse when a natural catastrophe hits.

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What are some common insurance agents’ claims?

InsuranceBee

Insuring other insurance agents can be tricky. After all, aren’t they the ones that are supposed to be providing insurance to everyone else? Well, yes, they are. But when the US insurance agent industry manages over $1 trillion of insurance … Read more. The post What are some common insurance agents’ claims? appeared first on InsuranceBee Blog.

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2023 Retail Industry Year in Review

Hunton Andrews Kurth

Our 2023 Retail Industry Year in Review provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments, issues, and trends impacting retailers, as well as a look ahead at what to expect in 2024. We hope you will take a few minutes to review our new publication released last week.

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Healthcare Data Breaches: What You and Your Clients Must Know

ProWriters

Digital collection, storage, and retrieval of personal data are essential to patient care and medical research today. Protecting that data from unauthorized access is essential, too. Healthcare data breaches can occur for many reasons. However they happen, security breaches in healthcare can have serious consequences for patients and the organizations responsible for protecting patients’ data.

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Cheap Auto Insurance For New Drivers in Texas 2024

Top Insurance Blogs

In this article, we shall be looking at how to get cheap car insurance for new drivers in Texas. If you are a new driver in Texas, you would probably be looking for cheap auto insurance for new drivers in Texas. That should not be difficult. This article will show you four (4) of the best cheap auto insurance for new drivers in Texas 2024. If you want to buy auto insurance for new drivers under $1,000, then you just found the right guide to show you where.

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Admin-Agent Synergy in Insurance Operations

InsuredMine

Brian Duperreault, CEO of AIG, once said, “The insurance industry is in the midst of a technological revolution. As we embrace digital transformation, we have the opportunity to redefine the customer experience and drive operational efficiency.” There is no doubt that he was right; at this point, we use technology for almost everything. How can the insurance industry be left behind?

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Reflecting on the first 25 Years of LMI Group

Prof. Allan Manning

Today marks LMI Group’s quarter century of service to the insurance industry and wider communities. What better way to reflect on all that our dedicated team have accomplished but list 50 highlights from our first 25 years that you may not know (or have forgotten) the Group. As an aside, I tried to narrow this down to 25 for 25 but I was over this in our first 10 years.

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What Is Data Governance in Insurance?

North American Software Associates

In the world of insurance, where data is king, maintaining control over information is imperative. Without proper governance, data can become unreliable, insecure and non-compliant, posing significant risks for agencies. Let's delve into the essence of data governance, why it matters in the insurance industry and how to implement it effectively.

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Illinois Court Says 7th Circuit Fumbled Illinois Law in BIPA Decision

Hunton Andrews Kurth

Companies face significant exposure from privacy related claims. An increasing number of these claims result from efforts at the state level to regulate use of personal data. One key focus is Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”), but as lawmakers in other states continue to introduce legislation aimed at regulating the use of biometric data, more court decisions may muddy the waters regarding what conduct may be covered under a general liability policy.

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Why Insurance Thought Leadership Matters More Than Ever

Inbound Insurance Marketing

Throughout history, information overload has been a challenge. However, in 2023, it reached a whole new level. Now, inundated with AI-generated stories and product reviews, your prospects don’t know what to believe. This is a problem for all of us – as the old saying goes, a confused mind never buys.

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Aviva Digital GP App Review 2024

Top Insurance Blogs

Just recently, Aviva announced a massive innovation when they went digital with the release of the Aviva Digital GP app. It was greeted with much enthusiasm and today I have composed an Aviva Digital GP App review to show you what the app is about. This Aviva Digital GP app review 2024 covers what the app is about and the features embedded in the app.

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Top 5 Insurance Trends Transforming India in 2024

InsuredMine

I have spent the last couple of months meeting leaders from the Insurtech space as well as traditional insurance companies and here are some of my quick learnings about India Insurance trends in 2024. The Indian insurance landscape is undergoing a dynamic shift, fueled by rising awareness, technological advancements, and evolving customer needs. As we stand at the threshold of 2024, let’s delve into the top 5 insurance trends that promise to reshape the industry in the coming year: 1.

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What To Stop Doing

Client Focus

The grind is all the stuff you do that prevents you from doing better stuff. Better stuff is stuff that makes your employees more successful, your customers happier, your wallet thicker, and your business bigger. You crave that, right? So, let’s get rid of the grind stuff. Here are some options: Repetitive Tasks List 5 things you’ve done a gazillion times that just make you busy, not valuable.

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Bright Futures: How Next-Gen Insurance Foundations Empower Operational Strategies

Majesco

Opportunity is real. An interesting result of our world economy and the rise in technology is that small businesses are on the rise, fueled by growing opportunities. Small businesses are now enabled by the offering of capabilities that used to be difficult and necessary but are now available as simple services or those which make any business run smoothly.

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Safe Passage: Your Guide to Health and Safety While Traveling

Travel Insurance Services

Traveling to new destinations is a thrilling adventure, but ensuring your health and safety should always be priority number one. Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or an extended vacation, taking proactive measures can make a difference in safeguarding your well-being throughout your vacation.

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February is American Heart Month

R&R Insurance

February is American Heart Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about heart health and promoting ways to prevent heart disease. It serves as a reminder for all of us to take care of our hearts and make positive lifestyle changes that can lead to a healthier future. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States , affecting both men and women of all ages.

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The New Florida Vehicle Insurance Laws You Need to Know in 2024

Top Insurance Blogs

In today’s article, we shall be looking at the Florida vehicle insurance requirements for anyone that desires to drive within Florida without going against the law. Basic Information About Driving a Vehicle in Florida What type of car insurance policy is required by law in Florida? A proof that you have purchased Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL) automobile insurance must be presented before you can be allowed to register a vehicle with at least four wheels in

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What’s your superpower?

InsuredMine

InsuredMine: Unleashing the Sales Superpower for Independent Insurance Agents Forget X-ray vision! When it comes to independent insurance agents, the real superpower lies in harnessing the power of data and automation. And that’s where InsuredMine swoops in, not as a caped crusader, but as a savvy tech partner , equipping agents with a sales CRM and marketing automation platform that turbocharges their sales engine.

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Help Your People Focus

Client Focus

Your business has one job: deliver value to customers. Everything else is subordinate to this. No value, no customers, no business. Yet employees in most companies are not aligned with this reality. Having an entire workforce that’s disconnected from the prime directive is both stunning and common. The Misaligned Masses When you’re a business owner or even an account owner, you understand alignment to customer value as a primary survival instinct.

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The Need for Speed: Prompt, Accurate Rating Information is Vital to Compete

Majesco

The concept of speed is increasingly becoming an important competitive factor when presenting rating information for specialty insurance risk coverage. Turnarounds of weeks or days to evaluate, quote, and bind policies are simply not acceptable in today’s hyper-competitive market. Insurance risks are diverse and ever-evolving, especially specialty insurance, which plays a crucial role in providing coverage for unique and high-risk situations.

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More Employees! New Rule Makes It Harder to Classify Workers as Independent Contractors

Hunton Andrews Kurth

On January 10, 2024, the US Department of Labor (DOL) issued the “Final Rule” that modifies the standard for determining whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Final Rule will take effect on March 11, 2024. Background : Under the FLSA, all covered entities—businesses involved in interstate commerce with a gross volume of sales more than $500,000—must pay all “nonexempt employees” the federal minimum wage and overtime pay for all h

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How To Niche Down (Part 3)

Client Focus

If you missed part 1 of this series, the link is here. Part 2 can be found here. A business with a strong niche isn’t trying to be “better” than the competition. They’re trying to differentiate themselves out of competition altogether. And one of the ways that a purpose-driven, solution-providing, small business is different from others is the way they think about money.

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How To Niche Down (Part 2)

Client Focus

If you missed part 1 of this series, the link is here. Going from selling commodity products to whoever will buy them to dominating a niche is a spectrum. Last week I mentioned some examples of the spectrum: Offer better service. Offer convenience. Leverage your information advantage. Specialize. This spectrum is a good way of thinking about levels of differentiation.