As the leaves start to turn and the air gets a little crisper, it’s the perfect time to reflect on our recent Service Team Appreciation Week (S.T.A.W.). Held in mid-September, this gathering was more than just a party; it was a heartfelt celebration of the incredible individuals who make our customer service side of the family what it is.
A Week to Remember
From shooting the breeze with Bugs Bunny, to Disney Adventures, Olympic Games and even a Casino Royale Party. Across the country, it was the perfect backdrop for a week of connection and celebration.
Connecting Through Fun Activities
We kicked off the week with a series of team-building activities designed to foster collaboration and camaraderie. From engaging icebreakers to fun group outings, laughter filled the air as colleagues celebrated each other. The spirit of the week not only broke the ice but also brought a sense of unity and shared joy.
Recognizing Our Rockstars
The heart of S.T.A.W. is recognizing the outstanding contributions from our service team members. Each party, lunch, gift or handwritten note is our heartfelt appreciation, highlighting the dedication, creativity, and hard work that makes our service side of the business thrive.
Their commitment to our clients remind everyone of the values that bind us as a corporate family. #RelationshipsMatter
Words of Appreciation
At Relation, S.T.A.W. is one of our favorite times of the year. It gives our leadership and sales team the opportunity to extend our gratitude and encouragement to our esteemed partners in client protection. Whether we shower the service team with gifts, days off, or parties. Each opportunity allows us to emphasize how each employee’s efforts contribute to the company’s vision and success. It was a reminder that every role, no matter how big or small, plays a crucial part in our collective journey.
Building Lasting Connections
The true essence of S.T.A.W. was in the connections forged and strengthened. Colleagues found common ground, sharing laughter and stories that will carry on beyond the event. The memories created this week serve as a reminder of the supportive environment we strive to cultivate every day.
Moving Forward
As we look ahead, the enthusiasm and positivity generated during the appreciation week will serve as fuel for our continued growth and collaboration. It’s essential to carry that spirit of appreciation throughout the year, ensuring that every team member feels valued and recognized.
In conclusion, our Service Team Appreciation Week (S.T.A.W.) was a beautiful reminder of why we do what we do. It celebrated not just our achievements but the incredible people behind them. Here’s to many more moments of appreciation and connection as we continue our journey together!
Curious about career opportunities at Relation Insurance? Why independent agents and service professionals are joining our mission to become America’s Most Trusted Insurance Broker. Check out our open positions here and find out what insurance professionals know about #LifeAtRelation that you should know.
“It has always been our mission to be more than insurance broker, but rather a partner, teammate and friend in the business. We are honored to be recognized for this level of service that goes beyond creating long term solutions that address our client’s unique challenges.” – Keri Lopez
To view Relation’s profile on Mployer, visit Relation Insurance Pleasant Hill Office Profile
About Relation Insurance Services
Relation Insurance Services is an insurance brokerage firm that offers superior risk management and benefits consulting services across the United States. It is ranked by Insurance Journal within the top 25 largest agencies in the country by revenue and has approximately 1,350 employees across more than 137 locations nationwide. Relation is a privately held corporation backed by Aquiline Capital Partners, a private equity firm based in New York and London investing in businesses globally across financial services and technology. Visit: About Us page for more information.
About Mployer:
Mployer is transforming employee benefits by empowering employers and leading benefit consultants toeasily assess, rate, and communicate the value of employee benefits. Providing industry-first transparencythrough unbiased research, benchmarking, and advanced analytics, our goal is to support employers andbrokers in providing benefit plans that optimize costs and employee-employer relationships. To learn moreabout Mployer, visit https://mployeradvisor.com and follow us on LinkedIn.Disclaimer: Rankings are dynamic, and this report may not reflect the rankings currently listed on Mployer’swebsite. Because Mployer’s research is ongoing, interested companies that want to join next year’s list areencouraged to claim their free profile on Mployer.
You will want to take advantage of Relation’s upcoming compliance webinar – Wellness in the workplace.
Join our VP of Compliance, Matthew LoPorto, and our Wellness Program Manager, Jeanne McDaniel, as they team up to discuss how to create a thriving Wellness Program that not only encourages engagement with health and wellness benefits but also cultivates a positive organizational culture, enhances job satisfaction, and boosts employee retention. Plus, you’ll learn how to effectively manage healthcare costs while ensuring compliance with crucial Federal regulations like HIPAA, ADA, and GINA.
Join Relation Insurance Services for our upcoming webinar, Wellness in the Workplace – How to Create an Effective and Compliant Wellness Program
Matthew LoPorto will also share his insights on the compliance essentials for a successful Wellness Program. As well as crucial regulatory updates that will impact your health plans as we prepare for the open enrollment for the 2025 Plan Year.
Relation will be hosting the webinar WELLNESS IN THE WORKPLACE! HOW TO CREATE AN EFFECTIVE AND COMPLIANT WELLNESS PROGRAM on:
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2024
2:00 – 3:00 PM EST
To make sure you’re on top of your employee benefits game and in sync with compliance, don’t miss out – save your seat today!
Have questions? Please feel free to submit them in advance to [email protected] or questions may be asked during the webinar.
After you register, you will receive a confidential email containing information about joining the meeting.
P.S. Cannot attend? Register to receive a copy of the webinar recording.
About The Speakers
Article originally posted in Big I Arkansas publication for independent insurance agents of Arkansas.
At a Big I convention back in 2004, Brandi McKinney was still a Yankee with a northern accent. Smitten by the Southern hospitality and family atmosphere she encountered, she said, “I’m going to be a big part of this.”
Since then, her accent has faded, but not her enthusiasm for her industry and community.
McKinney, 46, is AVP for McGhee Insurance NWA (Relation Insurances Services) in Rogers, and the new Big I Arkansas President.
“I will never not have the Big I family,” she said.
Finding a path
Originally from Chicago, McKinney went to college in Indiana and earned her degree in psychology. She intended to get a master’s degree and teach before she “fell into insurance” after a carrier saw her resume on Monster.com. and offered her the opportunity to travel and have a company car and expense account. In her early 20s and single, it was enough to persuade McKinney to become a territory manager for a company under Baldwin & Lyons, Inc.
When the company said they wanted to give her Arkansas as a territory, McKinney told them she wasn’t exactly sure where the state was. But as she traveled throughout Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama, she quickly fell in love with the area.
“The South is amazing,” she said. “The people are nice. Our state is beautiful. The pace is calm. People talk to you and hold the door open.”
McKinney is particularly excited to have found a home in the northwest corner of the state.
“In Northwest Arkansas, we’re unique in a sense. We’ve got some of the top companies in the United States. Walmart and Tyson bring in so many people from out of town,” she said. “It’s becoming a real melting pot, but we are not losing that Southern flavor.”
“The opportunity for young people in Northwest Arkansas is huge. It’s a great place to start a business and raise a family,” said McKinney, whose family now includes her husband, Or. Brandon Munson, who is a chiropractor, and their three sons, Tobin, 16, Eli, 13, and Jax, 11. Family life revolves around kid sports, including swimming, basketball, baseball, football, and travel, but they make a point to get to Chicago each year for major league baseball. When they’re home, the family has season tickets for the Arkansas Naturals.
Finding a mentor
In 2004, after becoming friends with longtime independent insurance agent Bill McGhee of Little Rock, McKinney said to him, “I can open an agency and move to Arkansas.”
“We kept talking and finally decided to do it,” she said. McKinney went home and told her friends she was moving to Arkansas, which she did with the help of two agent friends, one of whom bribed a group of construction workers with a case of beer to move her belongings into her third-floor apartment while the complex was still being built. McKinney was inspired by how McGhee ran his agency.
“He treated his team like family more than any office I had ever been in,” she said. “He took care of his people. That made me trust him and want to be part of it, and he took a huge risk on me.”
Building a business
In the summer of 2006, they opened the agency from scratch.
“We didn’t buy a book. I had to network my butt off,” said McKinney, who quickly joined the Chambers of Commerce in Bentonville, Rogers, and Springdale. She attended Business After Hours events, coffees and lunches, and got involved with a network group for women. “Those were a huge resource for me. I got to be out and about, and I met so many good friends.”
In 2013, McKinney bought the agency from McGhee, who retired.
“I just grew the agency and loved it,” she said of the business, which has been Relation Insurance since 2013. “And I still love it.”
“We have six people on our team, so we’re a small agency,” she said. “But one of the things that enticed me about how Bill ran his business is there is not a single thing they couldn’t ask me to do. Whether it’s to pick up snacks, take out the trash, or help with customers’ problems, they wouldn’t hesitate to ask.”
That kind offlexibility and willingness to serve at every level is one of the keys to success in the independent agency world.
“As independent agency owners, we kind of have to be everything to everybody, which I love,” she said. “That tests my knowledge and makes me understand my value to people.”
“People come to you for everything. At first, it was mostly personal lines, like home and auto. That’s
how I started and grew the business,” she said. “It has morphed throughout the years as I’ve worked with small businesses and nonprofits, which challenged me to learn and grow.”
Giving back
Since arriving in Northwest Arkansas, McKinney has given back to the community through the Kendrick Fincher nonprofit organization and serving on the advisory board for Signature Bank. During (OVID, she volunteered as a substitute teacher at her children’s school.
“Northwest Arkansas has so many nonprofits, so there are tons of opportunities to volunteer and help,” said McKinney, who also speaks and teaches at Saving Grace NWA, an organization that supports young women who are aging out of the foster care system. “It’s been a great experience.”
Community service is something McKinney believes independent insurance agents are well-suited for.
“We’re very service oriented. That’s just part of our DNA,” she said. “When someone calls, we just want to help people. We’re also flexible, which opens up more opportunity for us to do those things.”
McKinney has also supported independent agents in their careers, as McGhee did for her. She helped David Teigen, a California native with a background in employee benefits, open an office in Eureka Springs.
“He was amazing. He embraced the things that Bill instilled in me and put his own take on it,” said McKinney, who also helped two AAA partners in Fayetteville, who approached her for support.
Nurturing relationships
Helping independent agents be successful in Arkansas is part of what drives McKinney.
“I believe in our industry, and I want people to open agencies and be part of the independent agency family,” she said.
Independent agents have a different ethos than the corporate insurance business model, especially in Arkansas.
“It’s the same thing in all independent agencies,” she said. “They’re like a family and so welcoming.”
After meeting colleagues from other areas at national programs, McKinney believes the sense of community among independent agents is particularly strong in Arkansas.
“They are baffled at the relationships that we have here,” she said. “This is how Arkansas is. Independent agents,regardless of competition, are still friends and family.”
While technology has changed tremendously in the insurance industry, McKinney is happy to reassure younger independent agents that they will not be replaced with Al (artificial intelligence).
“That’s not going to happen here in the South,” she said. “We’re big on people. We still want an actual person to talk to and visit with.”
“Our industry is 100 percent relationships,” she said. “If you can go out and meet and talk to people, you can be successful.”
“Everybody needs insurance, whether it’s for their car or a new business,” she said. “You start small, put yourself out there helping people. Then they trust you, and they tell other people.”
While McKinney didn’t study insurance in college, her degree in psychology has proven useful.
“We are basically therapists, and we listen better than most,” she said. “We become a trusted advisor. The last thing we talk about is policy, which is why we’re successful.”
“I tell people it’s not their job to know insurance. That’s our job. We’re here to guide and help,” she said. “Their responsibility to tell us what’s important to them, so we can advise them.”
McKinney understands that when people buy insurance, they’re not 100 percent sure why. They just know they have to have it.
“I like to tease that people don’t realize who we are and what we do until something catastrophic happens,” she said, recalling conversations with clients after a recent tornado in Rogers. “Our job is to get to know them, their family, and their
property. These are things that matter in the event of a catastrophe. As an advisor, I’m supposed to listen and know what they need in case something happens. At the end of the day, we’re here to help make them whole.”
Curious about career opportunities at Relation Insurance? Why independent agents are joining our mission to become the Most Trusted Insurance Broker in the United States. Check out our open positions here and find out what industry experts know about #LifeAtRelation that you should know.
What is an Insurance Journal MVP
The Insurance Journal report features 15 MVPs who define what it means to be a successful CSR and/or account manager in today’s property/casualty world. These professionals have achieved impressive success throughout their careers and demonstrated key skills of what it takes to be the best service professional.
They also have shown they have a passion for what they do and a commitment to professionalism and, in many cases, specialization. For them, being a CSR/ account manager is more than a job. Insurance Journal’s MVPs come from all regions of the country, live and work in cities or towns big and small, and know the importance of serving their customers.
Meet our 2024 Insurance Journal MVP’s
Meet Sara Wilson
An MVP uses every opportunity as a learning opportunity, according to Sara Wilson. “Even if something feels like defeat, an MVP never quits,” she says.Wilson, an account manager at Relation Insurance Services in Fresno, California, began her career in the insurance industry 22 years ago as an assistant with no prior experience.
“I took advantage of every training opportunity and insurance course available to me and quickly worked my way up the ladder,” she said. “From assistant to account manager, unit supervisor, senior account manager and finally account executive, I enjoyed every single role and valued both the experience and the relationships each position bestowed on me.”
Today, she handles a diverse book of busi
ness, from property managers, developers, and non-profit organizations to for-profit hospitals, contractors, farmers and lawyers.
“No niche, you name it, and I’ll learn it and handle it with utmost care and expertise,” she said.
She credits her growth to working with people who share core values and dedication to excellence creates success for the team and for the client.
“While I have never set my sights on a sales role, I prioritize the relationship between myself and the producers I work with,” she said. “It is truly a team effort, one that ultimately benefits our greatest asset — the client.”
She added: “Every day, I get to help at least one person; that makes me an MVP.”
Meet Erinn Stringer
Erinn Stringer is a third-generation insurance professional. In 2010, she started her career in the mail room and as the receptionist for her family’s brokerage in Portland, Oregon.
“I’ve since worked as a P&C broker, promoted from assistant to client manager, and now AVP/senior client manager,” she said. “I’ve worked as a broker for more than a decade, and it’s never a dull moment.”
Stringer joined Relation Insurance in Walnut Creek, California, in 2022 as a part of the acquisition of G2 Insurance Services, a San Francisco-based brokerage. Her focus is on large and middle-market non-profit organizations, wineries and contractors.
“Caring about my clients and the people I work with has been most helpful in my professional career,” she said. “Getting to know the people I work with gives meaning to the work I do and invigorates seemingly monotonous tasks.”
Stringer said she fosters trust with her clients through client advocacy, marketing expertise, carrier negotiations, reliability and transparency.
“I’m always willing to go the extra mile to help someone out and support my community, whether it be training, backup support, attention to details, volunteering, or simply putting in extra time and effort when needed,” Stringer said.
“I thrive on being a trusted advisor and advocate for others,” she said. “Insurance is a great career.”
You will want to take advantage of Relation’s upcoming compliance webinar!
Our VP of Compliance, Matthew LoPorto, is teaming up with Marilyn Monahan, owner of the Monahan Law Office, to bring you expert guidance on employee benefits and insurance laws.
Join Relation Insurance Services for our upcoming webinar, The Intersection of Leave Laws & Employee Benefits.
With her extensive experience advising employers and consultants on compliance, Marilyn will be guiding us through practical, real-world examples of benefits administration during leaves of absence.
With the increasing complexity of overlapping leave laws like FMLA and USERRA, it’s more important than ever for HR and benefit professionals to understand how they impact employee benefit plans. Marilyn will highlight the tips, traps, best practices, and action items you need to know about to stay compliant. She’ll cover everything from which benefits employers must offer, for how long, and who has to pay for them.
Matt will also be providing crucial guidance on upcoming Federal filings to ensure that you’re aware of your responsibilities.
Secure your spot today and join Marilyn and Matt for an exclusive webinar. You’ll gain a better understanding of how to administer health benefits during an employee’s leave.
Relation will be hosting the webinar THE INTERSECTION OF LEAVE LAWS AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS on:
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8 2024
2:00 – 3:00 PM EST
To make sure you’re on top of your employee benefits game and in sync with compliance, don’t miss out – save your seat today!
Have questions? Please feel free to submit them in advance to [email protected] or questions may be asked during the webinar.
After you register, you will receive a confidential email containing information about joining the meeting.
P.S. Cannot attend? Register to receive a copy of the webinar recording.
About The Speakers
With the 50th anniversary of ERISA upon us, our Compliance VP, Matthew LoPorto is set to guide you through its requirements and dive into how plan sponsors can stay true to their ERISA fiduciary duties.
Join Relation Insurance Services for our upcoming webinar, where we will be kicking off this year’s compliance series!
Matt will be covering topics, like:
- The must-knows of the ERISA Wrap Document.
- Break down the essentials of both the Plan Document and Summary Plan Description.
- Walk you through when and how you can send these key documents electronically to your team.
- Provide insights on the Summary of Material Modification.
- Tackle the Section 125 Plan Document.
- Provide insight from what we learned at the Council for Insurance Agents and Brokers’ Legislative Summit where our Compliance and Legal teams got to chat with Congress about the future of employee benefits.
Relation will be hosting the webinar on The Who, What, Where, Why, and How of ERISA Compliance on:
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST
To make sure you’re on top of your employee benefits game and in sync with compliance, don’t miss out – save your seat today!
About The Speakers
On December 19, the Relation Insurance Employee Benefits Compliance Team hosted its Quarterly Compliance Webinar titled “Looking Towards 2024: What Regulatory Changes Will Impact Your Employee Benefit Plans.” The presentation began with our VP of Compliance, Matthew LoPorto, providing the latest updates from the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers’ Legal Counsel Working Group. Matt discussed some of the high priority regulatory issues that the Legal Counsel Working Group will continue to engage in as we move into 2024 such as the proposed regulations applicable to pharmacy benefit managers and how those regulations impact group health plans.
The conversation then focused on the regulatory changes that are occurring in 2024 that are most impactful to employee benefit plans. Some of the items discussed were:
- The updated Affordability Percentage for the ACA Employer Mandate and a review of the Affordability Safe Harbors;
- New electronic filing requirements for the 1094-C and 1095-C Forms;
- Implementation of a new Machine-Readable File for Prescription Drug Rates;
- Updated requirements for the Self-Service Comparison Tool;
- Extended tax benefits for employer-provided student loan payments;
- Plan design changes to Medicare Part D and how that impacts creditable coverage; and
- The requirement to complete, and document, an analysis of the design and application of the non-quantitative treatment limits to comply with the requirements of the Consolidated Appropriations Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.
We also discussed the annual filing requirements for RxDC Reporting and the Gag Clause Prohibition Compliance Attestation, as well as due dates for other annual filing requirements and potential penalties for non-compliance. The Compliance Team also provided documentation that included a compliance overview of State Disability Insurance Laws, and Paid Family and Medical Leave State Laws. The webinar concluded with the Team providing the 2024 Benefit Plan Limits for specific plan types.
Click below to watch an on-demand replay of the webinar:
If you have any questions regarding information that was discussed during the presentation please connect with us at [email protected]
Since the pandemic, the shift toward digital operations in the business world has become a vital evolution. However, with the many benefits of a connected, online enterprise comes a slew of risks that traditional insurance packages, such as Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) Coverage Insurance, may not address. This gap has led to the increasing importance of Cyber Insurance for businesses, and it’s time you find an insurance broker who understands this is a crucial aspect of modern insurance coverage.
Why Is Cyber Insurance Important?
A 2022 Official Cybercrime Report by Cybersecurity Ventures predicted the global annual cost of cybercrime would reach $8 trillion in 2023—an amount greater than the annual GDP of every nation on Earth, barring China and the United States. And the cost of cybercrime isn’t expected to slow down, with damages projected to reach $10.5 trillion by 2025. Along with significant financial losses, businesses of all sizes may suffer reputational harm and lawsuits from affected customers.
How Misconceptions About BOPs Can Affect Insurance Brokers
Many businesses erroneously think that cyber threats are already covered under their BOP. But what does a Business Owner’s Policy cover? Typically, BOP Coverage Insurance addresses property damage, liability, and other conventional business risks. Cyber threats often fall outside this umbrella.
The Real Cost of a Cyberattack
The real cost of a cyberattack might surprise you. While CNBC reports the average cost of a cyberattack is $200,000, Business.com says the average cost of a data breach to a small business ranges from $120,000 to $1.24 million. Whatever the number, these can feel like abstract stats that don’t really apply to your business.
So, here are a few real claims examples we know of that might bring it closer to home:
- An online retailer went offline for six hours due to a cyberattack on the data center that hosted their site. The cost of recovering the website, lost revenue, and incident response expenses was $144,000.
- A public relations firm was hacked, and its system was infected with malware. IT forensics, legal, and notification costs were $50,000.
- A law firm had $118,830 fraudulently transferred overseas by cybercriminals posing as the firm’s bank.
- An employee in a manufacturing company clicked on a malicious link in an email, infecting the system with malware and encrypting all data. Incident response and recovery costs totaled $60,000.
Fortunately, all the above had cyber liability insurance so those costs and losses were covered. But without a policy, each company here would have been responsible for every dollar.
Is Your Company Covered For A Cyberattack?
Cybersecurity has now become a necessity for every business that uses technology. Could your company afford to pay the above costs or lose revenue due to downtime while you figure out how to respond to a cyberattack? With cyber liability insurance, you wouldn’t have to.
We can work with you to find what coverage best fits your needs. We’ll walk you through the process at every step to ensure your bottom line is protected and you have the resources to respond in case you are targeted.
Call one of Insurance experts today to make sure your business is protected from Cyber Threats.
Each year, hurricane season presents a significant risk to homeowners. Not limited to coastal areas, hurricanes are dangerous and can cause major property damage due to storm surge, wind damage and flooding. Download these helpful Hurricane Preparedness Resources.
- Hurricane Assessment Checklist
- Hurricane Before the Storm Checklist
- Hurricane During the Storm Checklist
- Hurricane After the Storm Checklist
- Hurricane Recovery Checklist
Follow these eight tips can increase your readiness in the event of a hurricane.
Plan your evacuation.
Plan how you will leave and where you will go. Designate someone as the emergency contact in case of separation from others.
Print important items.
Print copies of emergency phone numbers, insurance cards and IDs, placing them in a secure, waterproof container.
Protect your vehicle.
Keep your vehicle away from trees and other potentially damaging items, such as utility poles.
Get emergency supplies.
Prepare a supply of nonperishable food, bottled water, medicine, flashlights and, if needed, pet supplies. Additionally, make sure to fill your gas tank and refill prescriptions.
Keep your cellphone charged.
If a hurricane is in the forecast, have your phone ready and purchase backup charging devices to power electronics.
Detail your possessions.
Create a list of your belongings, including photos and videos where possible. Review your homeowners policy with an insurance expert to ensure you have adequate coverage for key items.
Follow evacuation orders.
Obey all emergency orders from local authorities. Seek safety at your local emergency shelter.
Stay out of floodwater.
Don’t swim, walk or drive in stormwater.Stay away from fallen power lines.