The world today operates online more than ever, especially since the pandemic forced all industries to adapt to doing everything digitally at an accelerated rate. The digital world continues to grow at a rapid pace, and for most people and businesses it would be a difficult task, if not impossible, to get by without access to a smart phone or computer on a regular basis. Many insurance carriers have put the digital world to good use with online claims handling. Did you know that many insurance carriers offer the ability to file or manage a claim online or via an … Continue reading

VAST CEO Scott White has announced that he will be stepping down as CEO effective March 1, 2022. Kelly Reed, a Marquette native, and currently a Risk Advisor at VAST will succeed White. White has been CEO of VAST since 1998. In addition to his duties as CEO, Scott has served on numerous industry advisory councils and was inducted into the Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame in 2021. He will officially retire from VAST in May 2022. Reed is a graduate of Northern Michigan University and has been with VAST for 15 years. He has worked in commercial insurance since … Continue reading

Cyber events, cyber-attacks, cyber incidents…the list of names for events where an organization’s system is compromised is never ending. Unfortunately, along with the long list of names, the actual events themselves are becoming more and more frequent and severe for organizations around the world. As you try and navigate the world of cyber-liability, cyber-attacks and cyber incidents, you may wonder how you can best protect your system and your organization from being a victim of an attack or mitigating the ramifications of an attack. Along with strong risk management, security protocols, and a robust cyber insurance program in place to … Continue reading

Hooray, warm weather is upon us!  And with that, many people are pulling out their grills and firing up their barbecues. I can already smell that freshly grilled burger, and it is making my mouth water in anticipation. Whether your choice is veggie kababs or hot-off-the-grill burgers, barbequed food delights are aplenty. Before you jump on the bandwagon, now is a great time to review some safety tips to make sure everything is ready for you to enjoy the delicious grilling. Use your propane or charcoal grill outside only and at an appropriate distance from your home or other building … Continue reading

Along with crazy times in our world, we are in the midst of some crazy times in insurance. In many lines of coverage on the business insurance side of the house, we are in what is referred to as a “hard market.” This means more often than not, increased premiums – two words our insureds never want to hear. Directors & Officers Coverage, Employment Practices Liability, Medical Professional Liability, Business Auto, Property, Umbrella – truly seeing increases on average of 15% + across the board as rates go up. We expect this trend to continue on well into 2021. A hard market can also … Continue reading

Many Americans regard dogs as cute, cuddly, friendly, and loveable animals. However, some people view dogs as vicious, dangerous, and potentially harmful. The stay-at-home orders of 2020 gave numerous households an impulse to adopt dogs at a much higher rate than average. According to the American Pet Products Association, almost 90 million dogs currently live in American households. While many adoptions were well-intended and brought comfort to the new pet owners and the dogs themselves, all of the adoptions came with the responsibility and liability of owning a dog. What happens when your dog bites another person? If that person … Continue reading

Online enrollment helps you save time during benefits enrollment and ongoing management by eliminating paper forms, reducing errors, and creating digital files. The value here lies in the fact that less time is spent collecting and reviewing forms, determining eligibility, and communicating benefit details. For employees, they can easily compare their benefit options and select the ones best suited to their specific needs. Online enrollment deepens your relationships with your employees by giving them and their dependents 24/7 access to plan details and educational resources regarding their benefits. Research shows that the more educated employees are about their benefits, the … Continue reading

Starting a new job often elicits feelings of fear or discomfort in navigating the unknown in new responsibilities, new surroundings, and new people.  VAST does something special to increase the comfort level of our newest hires.  The VAST Mentorship Program pairs the new hire with an experienced employee who has worked for VAST for a substantial amount of time to be a loyal guide and mentor for their first year. Official and structured mentorship programs give new hires the opportunity to sit down one-on-one with a knowledgeable employee to help motivate and engage them in their new place of work.  … Continue reading

As much as I hate to admit that summer is over and the warm temperatures are gone, it is true.  Winter is just around the corner.  With that, comes the cold, snow, and icy weather conditions that can make driving hazardous. Autumn is the perfect time of year to do a full check-up on your vehicle and make sure you are prepared to handle the impending winter driving conditions.  It may seem like a funny concept, but spending money now to prepare your vehicle for the cold weather will actually cost less in the long run and prevent you from … Continue reading

Traveling for business, pre-COVID, was a simple matter. Employees and businesses made travel arrangements almost daily and did not think twice about it. The COVID-19 Pandemic has not only changed the way individuals are going to travel, but businesses as well. With new restrictions and health protocols for flying being implemented around the globe, businesses may look to potentially outsourcing air travel for their employees to specialized companies, or even employees who may have access to personal aircraft. If your business is considering either one of these options, it should also look into putting a non-owned aircraft liability in place. … Continue reading