In today’s competitive business environment, attracting and retaining top talent is a priority for any company. One of the most effective ways to enhance your employee benefits package is by offering a group life insurance plan. September is Life Insurance Awareness Month, so employees may be starting to consider their life coverage.  Erie Insurance, known for its commitment to service and reliability, offers a group life insurance plan that stands out for both employers and employees. Here’s why choosing Erie Insurance for your company’s group life insurance plan can be a smart move.
 
1. Comprehensive Coverage at Competitive Rates
Group life insurance through Erie Insurance provides your employees with comprehensive coverage at a lower cost than individual policies. This is because the risk is spread across a larger group, allowing Erie to offer more favorable rates. Employees appreciate the affordability and peace of mind that comes with knowing they have financial protection for their families without breaking the bank.
 
                                                              Coverage is available at rates as low as $4/week.
 
2. Attract and Retain Top Talent
Offering a robust benefits package that includes group life insurance is a significant draw for potential hires. It signals that your company cares about the well-being of its employees and their families. This benefit can be a deciding factor for candidates choosing between job offers. Furthermore, providing life insurance coverage fosters loyalty among your current employees, reducing turnover and maintaining a stable, experienced workforce.
 
3. Employee Satisfaction and Peace of Mind
Employees who have life insurance coverage through their employer tend to feel more secure and valued. They know that in the event of an unexpected tragedy, their loved ones will be financially protected. This sense of security translates into higher job satisfaction, better morale, and increased productivity. Erie’s reputation for excellent customer service also ensures that your employees will receive the support they need when it matters most. 
 
4. Customizable Options
Erie Insurance understands that every company is unique, with different needs and workforce demographics. They offer customizable group life insurance plans that can be tailored to fit your employees’ financial needs.  Whether you’re looking for term or whole life coverage, Brock-Norton and Erie can work with your employees to design a plan that meets their needs and budget.
 
                                                              Coverage is available at rates as low as $4/week.
 
5. Easy enrollment. 
Our team will meet with your employees as a group to explain the plan and individually to enroll those who are interested in starting their coverage.  Employees apply individually and pay for the policies via post-tax payroll deduction.  Coverage is not guaranteed, but the application is simple and easy with no medical exam or lab work required.
 
 
6. Strong Partnership with a Trusted Provider
When you choose Erie Insurance, you’re partnering with a company that has a long-standing reputation for trustworthiness and customer satisfaction. Erie has been providing quality insurance products for nearly a century, and dedication to service has been their mantra since Day 1.  This partnership gives you and your employees confidence in the stability and reliability of your life insurance coverage.
 
Offering a group life insurance plan through Brock-Norton and Erie Insurance is more than just an employee benefit; it’s a strategic investment in your company’s future. By providing affordable, comprehensive coverage, simplifying administration, and enhancing employee satisfaction, Erie’s group life insurance plans can help your company attract and retain top talent while ensuring that your workforce feels secure and valued. In today’s business world, that’s a competitive advantage you can’t afford to overlook.
 
For more information, Contact Us today!

By prioritizing cybersecurity, organizations can mitigate the risk of data breaches, financial losses and reputational damage. Whether you're an individual or an organization, understanding the importance of cybersecurity is fundamental to navigating the threat landscape safely and securely.

The increased connectivity of the digital world means greater security vulnerabilities and cyber risk. Remote and hybrid work arrangements, increasingly sophisticated attackers, creative social engineering, and a rise in the number of passwords people use have all contributed to more cyber attacks. The results can be costly. Organizations that are ill-prepared or lacking in security and risk protocols will find themselves paying a hefty price both in reputation and financial loss.
 
While it’s nearly impossible to prevent all cyber attacks, your organization can reduce cyber risk by ensuring it’s prepared for the most common types of attacks. 

The most common types of risk are:

1. Compromised passwords / credentials
2. Social engineering and phishing 
3. Internet-facing services 
4. Supply chain attacks 
5. Man-in-the-middle attacks 
6. Structured Query Language injection attacks 
7. Distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS)
8. Malware
9. Ransomware

Am I covered my system is hacked? We recommend a cyber liability insurance policy to protect against financial losses resulting from a breach. Cyber insurance covers your cost to notify affected parties, diagnose & repair your system, regulatory fines, & lawsuits from the exposure of protected data. Contact us for more information on cyber insurance today!

To learn more about each risk; please check out Dataminr's Don’t Forget About These 9 Common Cyber Risks.

For more information on cyber security, click to read the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency's Cyber Security information page. 

Information (c) Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency and Dataminr.

In recent months, we have had several policy holders impacted by vehicle theft. Check out this brief blog for tips on how to reduce the likelihood of your vehicle being stolen!

Vehicle theft is increasing and continues to plague the already strained Auto Insurance Market. With premiums on the rise, inventory low and the time and cost to repair skyrocketing, cars are more expensive to obtain and maintain than ever. Across the country there is a 34% spike of stolen vehicles compared to last year. In DC alone there was a spike of 113% of car thefts compared to 2022. That equals about 18 cars, trucks, vans and motorcycles stolen every day. We should be aware that a majority of car thefts are from people that are stealing cars to strip and sell parts. It is also reported that some cars that are stolen are being sent overseas for sales.
 
Here are some tips that you can enact at home and in your business to reduce the chances of you waking up to an empty driveway.

1. Always lock the vehicle when you are not in it. Never leave it running unattended.
2. Keep keys locked inside your home or office, never leave a key in or around the vehicle or in another vehicle.
3. Always take your valuables out of your vehicle.
4. Close the windows and doors completely when not in use.
5. Always park in well-lit, populated areas. Try to park near security cameras when available.
6. Do not leave garage and shop doors unlocked/unsecured.
7. Invest in a vehicle tracking system or telematics devices. If you have one of these please never go after your stolen vehicle. Let the police handle that as you never know the intentions of the person who stole said vehicle.
8. Report suspicious activities like door pulling, and using flashlights to scope inside of cars to local law enforcement.
9. Install a motion dash cam.

 
For more information on how to reduce the likelihood of a vehicle theft, click to read the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s “Vehicle Theft Prevention Brochure". 

A water loss to your home or business can be devastating.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says that just 1 inch of water can cause $25,000 worth of damage.  Their Cost of Flooding Tool illustrates how the cost increases as the water rises. 
 
Many think that they aren’t at risk for a flood loss, but water can come from many different sources.  This video from Channel 6 in Philadelphia shows how one water main break affected many homes along a city street.

​We have seen an uptick of “100 year storms” over the last decade. In fact, 90% of natural disasters in the US involve some form of flooding. In the wake of Hurricane Ida, New Orleans once again suffered extensive damage to hundreds of its homes and businesses.
 
Water losses like these are not covered by standard insurance.  Property policies exclude damage caused by flood, surface water, ground water and drain backups.  Unfortunately, many of us don’t realize this until it’s too late.  Flood insurance will help to cover these losses.  Most flood insurance is written through the National Flood Insurance Program or NFIP, which is managed by FEMA.  These policies provide important coverage, but they do have their limitations.  For example, NFIP Flood policies include a very specific trigger: a flood is an excess of water on land that is normally dry, affecting two or more acres of land or two or more properties. This means that a flood has to impact more than just you (unless you have more than 2 acres) in order to be covered. 
 
The policy is broken into 2 parts:  the first for coverage of the Building structure and all permanently affixed items (i.e. appliances, windows, etc.) and the second for the Contents within, such as furniture and computers. However, the maximum limits available under the NFIP are:
 
Commercial properties: 
- $500,000 for the building and $500,000 for contents

Residential properties: 
- $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for contents
 
The NFIP also requires a waiting period of 30-days before the coverage can begin, unless the coverage is required by your bank.  In order to close gaps in the NFIP for larger exposures, excess coverage limits can be purchased in the private insurance market.  Some carriers will also add Flood coverage to Property policies for larger buildings.   
 
Floods can affect us all, and Flood insurance should be heavily considered regardless of your proximity to water.  In the event that you do not currently have this coverage and are not sure if it makes sense for your business, please reach out to Brock-Norton for a free risk analysis.