combsandco

The Syrup – Small Moments That Make Life Meaningful

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 16:54:00 GMT

The success of the Pancakes for Roger campaign isn’t measured in dollars raised or photos collected. It’s about the stories people share, the memories they honor, and the way this tradition continues to bring people together.

Click Here for the original post at BenefitsPro

By Susan L. Combs | March 21, 2025 at 02:40 PM

Every February, the world joins me in honoring my dad, Major General Roger E. Combs , by taking a moment to eat pancakes and take some pics. Simple, right? But Pancakes for Roger was never really about breakfast, and to be honest, it was never just about a man who broke my heart at the end of his life when he made a simple request for a favorite food. It was about what that request represented: gratitude, connection, and the small moments that make life meaningful.

Smashing records and setting the bar even higher

In 2025, we set out with ambitious goals: raise funds for the University of Missouri School of Law Veterans Clinic and gather 1,000 photos from around the world of people celebrating Pancakes for Roger month. Well, we didn’t just meet those goals—we smashed them .

Thanks to our generous sponsors and corporate matching donors, we raised over $13,000 for the Veterans Clinic, ensuring that those who have served our country get the legal support they need.
We collected pancake pictures from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., as well as 25 countries, and six continents.
And that 1,000-photo goal? We hit 1,142 submissions!

Yes, we had people eating pancakes on the beaches of New Zealand , in the mountains of Switzerland, and at kitchen tables across the U.S. We had military veterans, families, business teams, and complete strangers all taking part in something bigger than breakfast. That’s the power of a shared tradition.

More than just a meal

The success of the Pancakes for Roger campaign isn’t measured in dollars raised or photos collected. It’s about the stories people share, the memories they honor, and the way this tradition continues to bring people together.

This year, I heard from an active-duty Airman who made pancakes with his kids for the first time since returning home from deployment. A group of law students at Mizzou sat together over breakfast, discussing how they hope to help veterans through their future work. A woman in Japan told me she made pancakes in honor of her grandfather, a fellow veteran, who had passed away years ago. These are the moments that make this campaign special.

Because at its core, Pancakes for Roger is about remembering the little things — the moments we too often take for granted. It’s about slowing down, pulling up a chair, and taking a moment to be grateful. My dad knew that. And whether he was piloting CH-46 helicopters or sitting in a courtroom, he never lost sight of what mattered most.

What’s next?

This campaign started as a personal way to honor my dad, but it has grown into something bigger than I could have ever imagined. And we’re not done yet.

As a full-fledged non-profit, we are partnering with other non-profits around the country to make the greatest impact on veterans’ needs as we grow our endowment fund. Our mission is clear:

Creating pathways to improve the lives of veterans and their communities.

With the continued support of this incredible community, we will create lasting change for those who have served.

Thank you!

To everyone who participated, donated, shared, and made Pancakes for Roger 2025 a success—thank you. You are part of something special. And I know my dad is looking down, smiling, probably wondering how the hell we got we got a mule and a pig to pose for pancake pics!

I would also be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to acknowledge something else: Being a part of the insurance industry has afforded me the ability to launch this non-profit. The relationships I’ve built, the opportunities I’ve had, and the people who have stepped up to help have been instrumental in taking Pancakes for Roger to the next level.

A special thank you to some incredible individuals from our industry who have gone above and beyond this year through their efforts:

Eric Silverman, Angela Kidd, Antinea Martin, Allison De Paoli, Stephanie Berger, Jolene Bibian, Dr. Cristin Dickerson, Dawn McFarland, Taylor Miles, Jenny Weaver, Talia Hansen, Marie Goldbeck-Strunk, Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim, Juli McNeely, Kyle Gorman, Ali Goodwin, Sara Walker Hite, Amanda Brewton, Colleen Blum, David Mordo, David Smith, Lisa Laliberte, Robin Tefft, and Julie Parks.

So, as we look ahead, let’s keep the momentum going, keep lifting up our Veterans, and most importantly — keep the syrup flowing.

The Syrup – The power of being teachable

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 09:30:00 GMT

“Be teachable. You’re not always right.” – Anonymous This quote got me thinking about all the people I look up to, both inside and outside of our industry.

By Susan L Combs | June 10, 2024 at 08:13 AM

Click here for original article on BenefitsPro!

If you roll in my circle, you know I’m a massive fan of pictorial quotes that catch my eye on social media. I actually have an album on my phone whereI save these nuggets of information for when I need an internal pep talk or see a friend struggling. I was taught by my late father that if you get a good piece of information, it’s your obligation to share it with someone. After all, if it helped you, it will probably help someone else.

So here is one I heard recently that I thought was such a good reminder:

“Be teachable. You’re not always right.” – Anonymous

Talk about taking a little wind out of your sails, huh? The quote got me thinking about all the people I look up to, both inside and outside of our industry. When I started thinking about what they have in common, I realized that they are always open to learning. Whether sharing an article they read, taking on a new designation, or just learning a new product or process, they are open to making themselves better and helping those around them.

I will tell you, starting a non-profit over the last year has definitely been a reminder of this simple phrase. Serving on non-profit boards, even in a national capacity, doesn’t come close to running one. I’m sure my good friend Stephanie Berger would echo this after launching her Ellevate Foundation in recent years. So many different rules and nuances make it as different from running a for-profit company as different as comparing bicycles to oranges.

What do you do?

I often hear my dad in my head when I screw something up: “Suz, this is a teachable moment.” As long as we find lessons along the way, it can soften the blow of feeling like a failure. But we must remain open. Every time I show someone how to do a task, I think it’s important to give them the freedom to shift the process so that it makes sense to them. I typically say something like, “We’ve got to get from A to B; I don’t care how you do it, just get to B.” Then I show them how I do it, and often they come up with a different way and get the same result. It’s important to check your ego at the door and let someone work in a capacity that makes sense to them.

I also think it’s important to surround yourself with people who give you the grace to learn, even when people see you as being at the top of your game. For example, I’m the last person you want handling your Medicare account, but I have friends like Dawn McFarland or Nancy Giacolone , who let me ask what I deem as “stupid questions” and don’t make me feel like an idiot when I do.

Embracing the mindset of being teachable is essential for personal and professional growth — and sometimes, for avoiding epic fails. Whether saving inspirational quotes, running an insurance brokerage consulting firm, or starting a non-profit, life constantly reinforces the value of remaining open to learning and adapting. It’s about recognizing that we don’t have all the answers and that’s perfectly OK.

My dad was great at reminding me of the teachable moments when I would make a mistake, which sounds a lot better than “You really effed that up!” – though I heard that too when I needed a reality check. Whether you learn by feather or by sword, it’s through these moments that we evolve. By surrounding ourselves with supportive people who encourage us to ask questions and explore new ideas, we not only enrich our own lives but also contribute positively to those around us.

What’s something new you learned recently?

The Syrup – Permission to Soar

Thu, 30 May 2024 17:25:00 GMT

Harrison Butker’s recent controversial commencement speech got me thinking about what I would say to graduates who are embarking on their next journey and reminiscing about some things that were said to me along the way.

By Susan L Combs | May 17, 2024 at 04:59 PM

Click here for original article on BenefitsPro!

I’m on a flight back to NYC from Missouri and I’ve been reflecting a lot about where I come from and where I made my adult life and feeling a lot of gratitude. With graduation season upon us, I think back to when I graduated from high school in 1997, with a class of 15 students in a small farming community called King City, in the Northwest corner of Missouri. I had a full ride in Chemical Engineering with an Air Force ROTC Scholarship to the University of Missouri and I thought my life was all mapped out. What I never expected was basically an opposite career path that involved six declared majors, graduating with a Hospitality degree from the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and landing a job to be a banquet manager in New York City at the World Trade Center in May of 2001. And then a few short years later, I transitioned into the realm of insurance and have remained here for the past two decades.

When I think about this journey, it reminds me of the quote by Henning Mankell: “You can have more than one home. You can carry your roots with you, and decide where they grow.”

Over the past week, as I was back in Missouri, there was a lot of news about Harrison Butker’s commencement speech, which took place at a small Benedictine college about 30 minutes from where I grew up. Let’s just say as a progressive career woman, there were a lot of parts for me that went over like a lead balloon. I’m not into talking politics or religion, but it got me thinking about what I would say to graduates who are embarking on their next journey and reminiscing about some things that were said to me. So here goes…

Dear Graduate—-

You have permission to soar.

I had a father who had one foot in the world and one foot back on the farm, which means I was shown a unique perspective while growing up. Our mother owned a travel agency, and our father was a Major General in the Air Force and a civilian judge, which allowed my brother Matt and I to be shown the world at a young age. We were exposed to different people, places and ideas that helped us learn that the world was bigger than our backyard; however, we were never dissuaded from returning back to our hometown if that’s what we decided to do.

We were given permission to soar.

We were never told that something was outside of our reach or that we’d be better served by taking an easier road. We were encouraged to dream endlessly, think big, use logic, embrace differences, do for others when we can, build a tremendous work ethic, and that nothing would be handed to us. My father also told us to “be careful of the toes you step on today, because they could be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow.”

They gave us permission to soar.

But the best lesson I think I learned when I reflect on my nearly 20 years as a business owner, is the simple lesson of being open. You will come to a place, some years from now, where you will look back on the points of your life that have made a significant impact in your trajectory in this world. And if you are like me, each point where I had my next big success was when I was open to something new. New certifications or designations in my career, new products to learn and educate others about, new leadership and board opportunities, new roles as a public speaker, author or as a founder of a non-profit. When I was open, I was allowed the fortitude to grow more as a person, to be tenacious, and to build character.

I gave myself permission to soar.

I haven’t achieved all of this on my own; I have an incredible crew and tribe of both men and women who inspire me to keep pushing forward and striving to be better every day. This is my hope for you: Remember that no one gets where they are alone. Surround yourself with people who will lift you up and help you reach the next level. Never apologize for wanting more for yourself, for having a seat at the table, for being the breadwinner, for building an empire, for deciding to get married (or not), for deciding to have children (or not), or for being true to yourself.

You have permission to soar.

As you embark on this next chapter of your life, whatever that may look like, it’s important to remember where you came from, as this has built your foundation. However, also give yourself the space and opportunity to grow. Your upbringing will shape your perspectives, but you might discover that some of the things you’ve learned along the way are completely wrong. Embracing this can be a tremendous life lesson if you are willing to learn it.

Often, we try to shrink ourselves to fit into the places we’ve outgrown, but a square peg will never fit in a round hole; so bring your own saw and make that sonuvabitch fit. Take the time to see the good in every situation—the more you focus on the good, the more you’ll inspire others to do the same.

And don’t forget…

You have permission to soar.

Warmly,

Susan L Combs

Harrison Butker’s recent controversial commencement speech got me thinking about what I would say to graduates who are embarking on their next journey and reminiscing about some things that were said to me along the way.

By Susan L Combs | May 17, 2024 at 04:59 PM

Click here for original article on BenefitsPro!

I’m on a flight back to NYC from Missouri and I’ve been reflecting a lot about where I come from and where I made my adult life and feeling a lot of gratitude. With graduation season upon us, I think back to when I graduated from high school in 1997, with a class of 15 students in a small farming community called King City, in the Northwest corner of Missouri. I had a full ride in Chemical Engineering with an Air Force ROTC Scholarship to the University of Missouri and I thought my life was all mapped out. What I never expected was basically an opposite career path that involved six declared majors, graduating with a Hospitality degree from the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and landing a job to be a banquet manager in New York City at the World Trade Center in May of 2001. And then a few short years later, I transitioned into the realm of insurance and have remained here for the past two decades.

When I think about this journey, it reminds me of the quote by Henning Mankell: “You can have more than one home. You can carry your roots with you, and decide where they grow.”

Over the past week, as I was back in Missouri, there was a lot of news about Harrison Butker’s commencement speech, which took place at a small Benedictine college about 30 minutes from where I grew up. Let’s just say as a progressive career woman, there were a lot of parts for me that went over like a lead balloon. I’m not into talking politics or religion, but it got me thinking about what I would say to graduates who are embarking on their next journey and reminiscing about some things that were said to me. So here goes…

Dear Graduate—-

You have permission to soar.

I had a father who had one foot in the world and one foot back on the farm, which means I was shown a unique perspective while growing up. Our mother owned a travel agency, and our father was a Major General in the Air Force and a civilian judge, which allowed my brother Matt and I to be shown the world at a young age. We were exposed to different people, places and ideas that helped us learn that the world was bigger than our backyard; however, we were never dissuaded from returning back to our hometown if that’s what we decided to do.

We were given permission to soar.

We were never told that something was outside of our reach or that we’d be better served by taking an easier road. We were encouraged to dream endlessly, think big, use logic, embrace differences, do for others when we can, build a tremendous work ethic, and that nothing would be handed to us. My father also told us to “be careful of the toes you step on today, because they could be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow.”

They gave us permission to soar.

But the best lesson I think I learned when I reflect on my nearly 20 years as a business owner, is the simple lesson of being open. You will come to a place, some years from now, where you will look back on the points of your life that have made a significant impact in your trajectory in this world. And if you are like me, each point where I had my next big success was when I was open to something new. New certifications or designations in my career, new products to learn and educate others about, new leadership and board opportunities, new roles as a public speaker, author or as a founder of a non-profit. When I was open, I was allowed the fortitude to grow more as a person, to be tenacious, and to build character.

I gave myself permission to soar.

I haven’t achieved all of this on my own; I have an incredible crew and tribe of both men and women who inspire me to keep pushing forward and striving to be better every day. This is my hope for you: Remember that no one gets where they are alone. Surround yourself with people who will lift you up and help you reach the next level. Never apologize for wanting more for yourself, for having a seat at the table, for being the breadwinner, for building an empire, for deciding to get married (or not), for deciding to have children (or not), or for being true to yourself.

You have permission to soar.

As you embark on this next chapter of your life, whatever that may look like, it’s important to remember where you came from, as this has built your foundation. However, also give yourself the space and opportunity to grow. Your upbringing will shape your perspectives, but you might discover that some of the things you’ve learned along the way are completely wrong. Embracing this can be a tremendous life lesson if you are willing to learn it.

Often, we try to shrink ourselves to fit into the places we’ve outgrown, but a square peg will never fit in a round hole; so bring your own saw and make that sonuvabitch fit. Take the time to see the good in every situation—the more you focus on the good, the more you’ll inspire others to do the same.

And don’t forget…

You have permission to soar.

Warmly,

Susan L Combs

The Syrup – Setting Boundaries

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 18:43:00 GMT

I’ve talked to countless colleagues from around the country who are at their wit’s end with abusive clients, ill-mannered employees of clients, overworked staff, and personal exhaustion.

By Susan L Combs | February 01, 2024 at 07:51 AM

Click here for original article on BenefitsPro!

I’ve been reflecting a lot lately about the most recent 4th Quarter. I’ve talked to countless colleagues from around the country who are at their wit’s end with, let’s call it for what it is: abusive clients, ill-mannered employees of clients, overworked staff, and personal exhaustion. In our office, we did a postmortem earlier this month and vowed that “we aren’t doing things that way EVER again.” But the thing is, we didn’t change anything from years prior – the change came from the people and personalities of those we encountered. This is making us take a step back and figure out which systems, policies and procedures we can put in place so we don’t have a repeat in 2024.

But one word keeps coming up: boundaries.

Now, I know many of us pride ourselves on our lightning-fast response time, but the expectations of instant gratification in all aspects of our life seems to be reaching a whole new level. I can’t tell you how many times our office gets an email after 8pm from someone, only to have them “follow up” again by 7 the next morning. If the tables were turned, do you think they would want one of their clients treating them this way?

I began taking only scheduled phone calls about 10 years ago, which was really hard to do in the beginning. But man, this was one of the best decisions I ever made for myself in business. I found that if I was working on a project for a client, and then I answered the phone, it would shift my attention from what I was doing. I would then have to take the time to help or delegate and then shift my brain back to the project I was working on. It was incredibly inefficient.

I have other colleagues who only check their emails twice a day and block out their calendars so their office knows exactly when that will take place — and clients also come to know that routine eventually. I’ve never been one to do that, but I block my calendar like nobody’s business, and stick to it about 90% of the time. My office knows which blocks can be shifted if a call or meeting needs to be scheduled, but they also know not to delete any blocks.

I also think it’s interesting that different parts of the country have different expectations. We are in NYC, where everything was needed yesterday. And for the most part, we seem to always have this magic wand to make that happen. But heading into 2024, we are going to start being harder on deadlines and what is expected from our clients, because our office is the one who suffers with the extra hours and extra stress while our clients carry on during the holidays footloose and fancy free.

I saw a sign this morning that said, “Sure, let me drop everything to fix the problem you caused.” And it honestly made me laugh out loud, because if you are in this industry, you know how true that can be. You can educate, you can explain, but people want what they want when they want it, and they want you to make it happen at all costs. I still laugh when I remember a client firing me and threatening to sue me because I wouldn’t put his unborn child on the health insurance before the birth. Yeah, he really didn’t have boundaries….

So, what are your plans for 2024? Are you making some shifts in your office? Are you adding new staffing roles? Working with new vendors? I’d love to hear what’s going to set you up for a successful 2024!

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The Syrup – Cringeworthy Sales Tactics

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 18:00:00 GMT

Original Article on BenefitsPro

It’s 4th Quarter, which means it’s also open enrollment. We are all tired, overworked and keep saying over and over to ourselves, “Just get through it.” But then…as my friend, Allison Cohen De Paoli put it so perfectly, you get “assaulted” by yet another vendor trying to sell you during the absolute busiest time of year, and you just can’t take it anymore.

After sharing some texts with my crew ( Erika , Chelsea , Colleen & Nancy ), it got me thinking that we can’t be the only ones. This prompted me to send an email to my list of about 300 women who have been featured in the “What’s the Good News, Ladies?” series over the years and see if others had stories to share.

Boy, did they! In less than 48 hours, over 50 women responded back with annoying, rude and downright appalling examples of how salespeople have approached them during this time of year.

So maybe this is a little bit of a public service announcement; maybe it’s a little eff you; or maybe it’s a little “how to sell to a woman 101.” Because people, you are missing it, and you are missing it big! You know why? I’m dropping some knowledge on you right here in case you didn’t know: According to American Express and the SBA, over 42% of businesses in the U.S. are owned by women and women make up over 51% of the U.S. population! And according to Forbes, 85% of women control or influence consumer spending. That means there are over 330 MILLION women who will sing your praises if you get it right, but they will run the bus right over you, hit reverse and do it again if you get it wrong. We will screenshot your email, text, LinkedIn DM or forward the voicemail to each other and we will remember to avoid you and your company’s services at all costs, because what’s the rule you should never forget?

Hell, hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Buckle up and take note, because you are getting a golden list that is the compilation of many uber successful women in our industry, including award winners, top producers, business owners and badasses. If you are in sales, print this out and put it where you can see it and then never do these things.

The Gift Givers: Not the ones who are sending you a thank you for the business; we mean the ones who are trying to bribe you for a meeting. Gift cards and even shoes were offered to some of these women. What’s wrong with this? It can be looked at as rebating in some states and if you are a vendor with a license, you can lose it. And just as importantly, you make us feel gross.
Bate and Switch – Recruiting: More than one woman emailed and said she had recruiters pose as a potential client. The meeting is booked, but once on the call, they realized it was a recruiter trying to hire them away. Do you really think someone worth their salt is going to come work for you when you have basically lied your way into a meeting and showed your ethical character?
Bate and Switch – “I’m Interested in Your Services”: I’ve heard a few people bring this one up: Someone reaches out to you via email or social media, saying they’re interested in your services, so you set up a meeting. But once you get on the meeting, they have a full PowerPoint presentation on selling THEIR services. So not only did the vendor waste the person’s time as they prepared for what they thought was their own prospect meeting, they completely disrespected them by pushing the vendor’s agenda over theirs.
Beauty and the Beast: I know you have all gotten this one, if you take a second to think about it. A breath of fresh air enters your inbox: finally, a well thought out email or message from someone that has done their homework! You accept the connection, but five seconds later, you get a spam sales pitch message and a link to set up a meeting. I had this happen recently and ignored it two times. By the third one, I was a little less than nice and said, “Dude, read the room. It’s open enrollment and if you really work with brokers, you’d know asking for a meeting right now is the kiss of death.” His response was basically that OE ends in 2 weeks (is he out of his mind?) and he wants to be one of the first people I reach out to. My response? I deleted the connection, took a screenshot and sent it to my friends, who won’t ever meet with him. Bravo.
Badmouthing: You know how your gramma always told you, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”? If the only way you feel that you can get business is by throwing others under the bus, are you really that good of a salesperson? One guy basically told one of woman that she was dumb because of the software she was using!
Spam: “Hi…your profile looks interesting…” Raise your hand if you get 10 of these a week. Do you really feel like this is a differentiator? If someone makes me laugh, I always accept, even if I have never met them. But if it’s the same canned outreach, I delete it. And most others do, too!
Not Knowing Your Audience: Man, this one came up a lot. Salespeople basically throwing spaghetti to the wall and hoping it sticks, but missing the mark because they didn’t take any time to really look at who you are as a professional. The sad thing with this one is, that they probably could have gotten a meeting if they did a little homework.
Lying: I have to give a big shout out to the sales training I got from Paychex (I know my girl Rachel McLauchlin will echo this) as I really feel like it was some of the best. Two things I always remember: 1. If you sell on price, you’ll lose on price. 2. Never lie. One example I got of this was someone basically swiping a mutual connections LinkedIn list and pretending that the mutual connection recommended that they connect. When she called the mutual connection to see what was up, she discovered the deception and said, “I will not do business with him now.” So, this guy not only burned one bridge, he burned two, along with all the other people they will tell! (Gas up the bus, girls!)
Did you Get My Email?: This one came up like 10 times. It can also be worded as “Let me bump this up to the top.” Most don’t get the hint that you didn’t respond for a reason and so keep on sending. Or they get a read receipt when you open the email, so then they have someone else who is supposed to be higher up in the firm reach out to you and say they know “you’ve been talking with their colleague.” So many of these do not have an “unsubscribe” feature, so you just end up blocking them.
The Unapproved Meeting Request: Nothing grates on me more, and this was brought up by over half of the women who responded. If you are doing this, stop. Just stop. I don’t know who taught you this, but it’s wrong. It’s intrusive. It conveys that you think their time and schedule should be controlled by you. It’s dishonest. Think of the other person. Would you be thrilled if someone you had never met walked into your house, sat down at your dinner table and said, “Oh, is now a bad time?” I generally have a “three strikes and you’re out” rule, but this one is an immediate banishment in my book. I will never take a meeting from them and everyone I have talked to has similar feelings. Especially this time of year, we are all tired and overworked. When a funny meeting appears on our schedule that we don’t know anything about and we respond to the sender to get a little more information and find out it’s a sales pitch,, queue explosion. Hell, hath no fury….

If you couldn’t tell, I had a lot of time writing this and I hope you had fun reading it. I know we are all running on empty right now, so hopefully this gave you a little reprieve from the stress we all have this time of year. Maybe you got a little insight into how to sell to a woman and realized you might be doing some of these things in one way or another. Or maybe you just nodded your head throughout because you felt a connection to others in our industry. My hope is that it gave you a few laughs, headshakes and maybe a face palm, too.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank those who helped with this article; the emails that came in were just so much fun to read! Hang in there, ladies, and if you need a bus driver, I got you!

The Syrup – the loneliness epidemic and coping during the holidays

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 14:47:00 GMT

This month, 2023 BenefitsPRO Broker of the Year, Nancy Giacolone, shares her thoughts on coping with loneliness during the holiday season and beyond.

By Susan L Combs and Nancy Giacolone | November 21, 2023 at 08:21 AM

Original Article on BenefitsPro

This month’s edition of “The Syrup” has a special ingredient! It’s our current Broker of the Year and my dear friend, Nancy Giacolone. Nancy and I have been peer mentors to each other for a number of years and we recently had a conversation about loneliness. It’s a topic that we have seen come up with our own families, as our mothers are both widows. We have also witnessed it with colleagues and clients in our industry. Our discussion led to a guest authorship for this month’s article to tackle this topic and shine some light on some of the things we don’t always think about as the holidays roll around.

And with that, I’ll turn things over to Nancy.

The festive music, twinkling lights, and cheer that fill the air as the holiday season approaches are often thought of as universal markers of joy and togetherness.

Yet, for a growing number of people, this time of year may amplify feelings of isolation, highlighting the stark contrast between societal expectations of warmth and camaraderie and their own personal experiences of solitude.

The “loneliness epidemic,” as health professionals and social scientists have termed it, is an increasingly recognized public health concern that does not pause for the holidays. In fact, it often intensifies during this time of year.

A recent Gallup Poll found that loneliness is not confined to the elderly. They reported that nearly 25% of adults feel very lonely, and younger people feel significantly lonelier, with the loneliest group being between the ages of 19-20.

Loneliness has been linked to a myriad of health issues, both mental and physical. The risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, depression, anxiety, and a weakened immune system is higher among those who experience chronic loneliness.

Alarmingly, some studies have equated the health risks of prolonged loneliness to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Furthermore, loneliness can lead to a vicious cycle, where the lonelier one feels, the less they engage socially, exacerbating one’s isolation.

Gatherings, family traditions, and social festivities typically characterize the holidays. However, they can also serve as a magnifying glass for one’s social situation, illuminating the quality and quantity of our relationships.

For those who are estranged from family, have recently lost loved ones, or are far from home, the season can be a reminder of what — or who — is missing.

The proliferation of social media adds another layer, as idealized depictions of holiday happiness can deepen the sense of exclusion for those who feel their reality doesn’t measure up.

So, what can you do if you are experiencing feelings of loneliness this time of the year?

Frequent “third places.” These places are not home or work, but locations where people gather socially. Think parks, coffee shops, libraries, churches, or sporting events. Meeting people in places where you share a common interest will help foster connections.
Volunteer. Volunteering takes the focus off of yourself and puts it on others, which can foster a sense of purpose and community.
Community events. Holiday concerts, festivals, or bazaars are great places to meet and connect with others. Not to mention, they usually have some good music and tasty treats!
Visit someone you know may be lonely as well . Maybe you have an elderly neighbor who lives alone. Dropping by with a plate of cookies to check on them may be just the lifeline you are both looking for!
Although technology is no substitute for in-person interaction, sometimes it can help bridge the gap! Does your family live across the country? Have a Zoom holiday party or create a new tradition where you decorate your trees together virtually.

The holiday season should be a time of joy and connection, but for those experiencing loneliness, it can be particularly challenging. By acknowledging this reality and taking proactive steps to address the loneliness epidemic, we can extend the spirit of the holidays to include compassion, inclusivity, and community. The gift of connection might be the most precious one we can offer in a season marked by giving.

The Syrup – Working On versus In your Business

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 08:17:00 GMT

Original Article on BenefitsPro

By Susan L Combs | November 01, 2023 at 07:38 AM

Before we dive into our next topic, I want to just say “thank you”. I received countless emails, texts, direct messages and comments on the last edition, The Syrup – Mental Illness and Seeing the Unseen , from people who felt brave enough to share their own stories with me. It deeply touched me and as a contributor to this publication for over a decade, I can honestly say this is the most feedback I have ever received on an article. I’m glad it struck a chord with some and hope you felt a little more “seen” in this crazy thing called life.

Our next topic was brought up by the legendary Eric Silverman , who is also a frequent BenefitsPRO contributor, podcast host and enhanced benefits guru. He brought up the age-old topic of working on your business versus working in your business, something I think many entrepreneurs and business owners struggle with.

Before we tackle this, let’s first define and clarify so we are all on the same page. I think of working “in your business” as more about managing the immediate tasks and responsibilities necessary to keep the wheels on the bus, while working “on your business” involves strategic thinking and planning to ensure its long-term success and growth.

Some examples that might make it easier to think about would be:

Working In Your Business: The hands-on stuff like selling or consulting on insurance, customer service, admin work and managing the day-to-day operations.
Working On Your Business: The big picture work that looks more at the future, both near and far. Things like strategic planning, market research for opening a new office location, business development strategy, marketing, and long-term goal setting.

Some of the most successful people in our industry have found a way to balance these two approaches or to bring someone in to help. Because let’s face it, not all of us are good at doing both. If you are a person that is a bit of a dreamer and known to say things like “What would it look like if…”, then you are probably good with working on your business. But you also need to have people in your company that who keep the wheels on the bus while you have your head in the clouds, or you won’t have the revenue coming in to implement your dreams and reach your goals. These are the “In Your Business” people. Typically, your Type A’s that have to-do lists are the ones that are great on implementation and structure to hit your dreamer goals and can pull you back down to earth when you need a healthy dose of reality.

Honestly, I can be a bit of both when I’m in the right environment and surrounded by the right people. I love dreaming and I’m a taskmaster and a freaking machine when it comes to work, but I need the balance of others to run a successful company. When we brought in Sean O’Rourke as CFO over seven years ago, it became a gamechanger for the company. He has a much different approach, comes from outside the industry and was exactly what we needed to get us to the next level. Our revenue has grown steadily year after year since I opened the doors in 2005, but his strategic approach and high-level thinking put us in a financial position where we didn’t even blink when a national pandemic hit.Andhe has pushed my business Partner, Colleen Blum and myself to think about taking on new opportunities, to grow our consulting arm and to become one of the leading expert witness firms in the area we practice. All because we have an internal balance within the company.

One of my favorite things is when the three of us are brainstorming, because you get the logic, the passion and the money aspects looked at and it makes for a better way to set and accomplish goals, both short and long term.

I know many readers are sole props who are struggling with doing it all and figuring out how to take things to the next level. To be honest, you probably can’t do it alone. Eric and I talked about this recently and discussed how many business owners talk about not being about to afford bringing someone in. We both remembered when we made the decision. Eric said he had the same mindset 20 years ago, but “Once I finally made the leap of faith to hire someone to help, my business took off like a rocket. Making the decision was the hardest part. But once the decision was made, the ‘doing’ became effortless.”

As I close out this edition of The Syrup, I’d like you to think about when Eric made his leap. Very rarely does an entrepreneur have someone come up to them and hand them a few million dollars to start a company. Most of us started our businesses on sweat equity and the change from our couch cushions. And while moxie and grit can get you far in this industry, also remind yourself to be smart enough to know what you know, and to know what you don’t know. Check your ego and bring in people who aren’t just like you, but can help you soar; most successful business owners find a balance between working In and on their business, as both are crucial for the overall health and sustainability of a business. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what we all strive for?

The Syrup – Mental Illness and Seeing the Unseen

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 20:14:00 GMT

By Susan L Combs | October 04, 2023 at 07:19 AM

Original Article on BenefitsPro

I’ve struggled with even starting this article, but this topic has been weighing on my mind for well over a year. In our industry, we talk so much about mental health and wellness, which is great. And as those of us in the industry know, under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), we now have Mental Health Parity. And in some places like New York, even before the ACA we had things like Timothy’s Law that gave New Yorkers access to unlimited mental health sessions in network years prior. This is all incredible.

But you know what we haven’t talked about?

The family of the mentally ill or person struggling with addiction. The people who are showing up as caregivers time and time again only to have their hearts broken for the umpteenth time.

I know I live a pretty open life and many of you reading this probably know that I have been sober for over two decades. I’ve chosen a path for myself that has led me to have an incredible life, and I am grateful that I learned at an early age what a degree from the School of Hard Knocks had to offer by making some pretty big mistakes for myself prior to the age of 23. But I know I put my family through a lot and I own it. I have gone on to make my amends and mend the fences that were damaged but not broken. I have worked hard to try and make the right choice each day for myself and others. Of course, this doesn’t mean I’m perfect or that I don’t blunder and step in it from time to time.

I’m not a big one for having regrets, because I truly feel that you are denying yourself your place in the world right now when you say you have them. I choose to not regret the things I have done because I know that they shaped me as the person I am today and as a result, I have been able to help others. But I broke my parents’ hearts. I made the General cry…

Until recently, I don’t think I realized what it was like being in my parents’ shoes. Dealing with someone who is being irrational when you are trying to be logical can be the definition of frustrating. But about a year and a half ago, I got a major life lesson that I didn’t want and certainly didn’t need. This all comes back to a promise I made to my dad before he passed. My dad and I were “Team Type A” in our family, and I knew that when he was dying, he needed to take comfort in knowing that everything would be OK within our family unit. I promised my dad that “I got this” and that I’d look after my mom and my brothers. The year before my dad passed, “Team Type A” got together and we spreadsheeted, we had all the information organized, I knew who to call if a pipe burst in our little apartment building, I knew who to call to sell the Winnebago, I knew who to talk to about VA benefits that passed to my mom, I had all the passwords, we had everything mapped out. But we didn’t talk about my oldest brother, who has dealt with severe mental illness for well over three decades. We just missed it.

Eighteen months ago, I had my ass handed to me. I had never dealt with a mentally ill person who had gone off their meds. It’s uncomfortable; it’s hard. Everything logical doesn’t work. It reminded me about being around someone who is highly intoxicated, which as a sober person, feels unsafe. It was triggering. He ended up getting arrested and then things really got tough. I’m in NYC, he’s in Kansas; there is so much I can do from here….but I promised my dad. This was a dance I had to make up as I went along. A legal eviction led us to have to purchase a home for him to live in, because no rentals would take him with a felony record, a legal eviction, and other charges. I lost a lot of sleep, but ultimately, I felt that I “fixed” the problem, because I am nothing if not tenacious and can basically figure out any problem you give me. But you can’t fix mental illness. You can’t throw money at it and hope it goes away. You can’t pray it away. You can’t act like it doesn’t exist. Because guess what? When you think things are fine, when you start sleeping soundly and things feel back to normal, it breaks again. And it did. It broke again a few months ago, which led to an involuntary commitment into a state hospital. I don’t think it’s necessary to give you a play by play of what happened, but when death threats are happening and you are being told by your brother that he, “Just got off the phone with Dad” (our father passed away in 2018) it’s rough. It makes you want to run away from the situation and never look back.

But I promised.But what did I promise? Did I promise I would put my own health on the line at the sacrifice of someone else? No. Did I promise I would be a horrible boss and a shit wife because I didn’t have the capacity to show up in the world for the people who depend on me? No. Did I promise to put so much stress on myself that I would have chronic diarrhea for 6 weeks straight because I carry my stress in my stomach? No. Would my father want me to work so hard at fixing an unfixable problem for someone who doesn’t put the work in for themselves? Absolutely not. But I did and I have.

When is it time to walk away?

When is it time to put your own mental health and wellbeing first?

I honestly can’t answer those questions for you, because I’m still figuring that out for myself. But I can tell you what I have done. I have shared about it in my 12-step program, I have shared about it with my therapist, and I’ve shared about it with my tight crew. But you know where I’ve gotten the most support? Just like there is a “Dead Dad’s Club” that you never know about until you are indoctrinated into it, there is the “Mental Illness Family Club” and those are the people who have really helped during this time. Those who have it in their families know how hard it can be. How thankless it can be. How “I’ll never get an apology” it can be. How unaccountable it can be. How abusive it can be. To my Superman fans, it’s what I picture Bizarro World to be. And it sucks.

This article isn’t meant to be a “poor me” piece; like I said before, I have a big beautiful life and I was given so many tools and lessons in my life that have prepared me for this … kinda. This article is meant to see the unseen. For those of you who are in this boat, please know that you aren’t alone. I encourage you to share your stories and find support where you can get it. It’s up to you what that looks like.

Don’t ever apologize for putting your wellbeing first when someone is making you the price of admission.

Be brave.

The Syrup: How to keep going when you’re running on empty

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 13:31:00 GMT

We work in a people-facing business and don’t have the luxury of burying our heads in the sand. But this doesn’t mean that there aren’t times when we’d love to do just that.

By Susan L Combs | August 03, 2023 at 07:29 AM

Original Article on BenefitsPro

I can’t tell you how many people I have encountered over the past few months who have talked about how burnt out they are. Let’s face it, we work in a people-facing business and don’t have the luxury of burying our heads in the sand. But this doesn’t mean that there aren’t times when we’d love to do just that. I know there are days when my business partner Colleen Blum and I look at each other and say “When are we buying that ice cream truck?” We laugh and get back to the grind, but that 30 second check-in with someone else who “gets it” is sometimes all you need.

But what if you don’t have someone to do that with? Or at least you don’t think you do.

“How do you motivate yourself when you just aren’t feeling it?” was a question asked by one of our readers.

I started thinking a lot about what I do to stay motivated and when I asked myself this question, the first thing that came to mind is: I reach out.

To be honest, this is not something that I’ve always done; during my first 5-10 years in business, I carried the load along. I internalized and just kept grinding. But after 18 years as a business owner, I’ve learned better.

You aren’t a snowflake; feeling unmotivated is a common challenge that many people face. However, with the right strategies, you can regain your motivation. Here are some things I do to keep marching when I’m running on empty:

1. Move a muscle, change a thought: I know this might sound a little dumb, but when you get stuck, sometimes you just need to move. If you follow me on social media, you know I’m into CrossFit and start most days by working out. This lays the groundwork for me to take on the day, but if I feel unmotivated during other times, I walk around the block, walk down the hall or go check mail. Sometimes, just a little movement is all you need to shift things and get back at it.

2. Gratitude and goals: I have a girlfriend who owns her own law firm and Monday through Friday, we send each other a list of things that we are grateful for, followed by a list of what we want to accomplish for the day. We have been doing this for over two years and it’s a great way to start the workday in a good frame of mind—with gratitude and a list of goals for the day. I take the “goals” list and drop them into my “to do” list in Outlook and then check them off as I accomplish them. Nothing motivates me more than checking things off a list! (#loser)

3. The power of anticipation: It’s so important to look forward to something, whether this be a gift to yourself, a vacation, a conference, a random day off or a freakin’ popsicle. Have something in the distance that you know is coming when you get to that date on the calendar, land that client or hit a revenue goal.

4. Do something that has nothing to do with your business: This is something I learned from my dad. He was a Major General in the Air Force and a civilian judge, so he was on the road a lot. But one of the first things he would do within 24 hours of getting home was to go out to our farm and be a farm boy. I have a very analytical brain; I like math and I love me some spreadsheets. But during open enrollment, when the work increases and I need to give my brain a break or use it in a different way, I always have a creative project to work on when I get home so I can put my phone away and just focus. One year, it was making, bottling and labeling vanilla extract; another time, it was making Christmas ornaments. Currently, it’s knitting temperature blankets for my nieces. We all deserve to shut down, and this has been a perfect way for me to recharge for the next day.

5. Celebrate the wins: I made a reference earlier to sharing burnout with someone who gets it. And while some people might think they don’t have someone like that in their life, I promise that you do. There are things related to my business that I’m not going to pick up the phone and talk about with my mom or siblings, because they don’t know this part of my world. But my tribe is vast and strong. Having people in your corner who you can reach out and celebrate things with is crucial—especially if you are a one-person shop. When you land that big client, call a colleague in the business:, I promise that we will help you celebrate!

6. Take care of you. My close friend, Mike Veny, is a mental health motivational speaker. In an era where the topic of self care is coming at us from so many angles, he really simplified things for me. He said, “Self care is what you do for your health when you aren’t in the presence of a medical professional.” All of the suggestions in this article can be looked at as a form of self care, but sometimes the most important thing to do is say no to someone else so you can say yes to yourself. Don’t feel guilty about that.

I asked a few members of my crew to share what they do to motivate themselves when they are running on empty. Check these out!

Nancy Giacolone: “One of my favorite tricks is to work out in the morning, as it increases my dopamine and endorphins, and I am automatically more energized and motivated. The other trick I use is to rearrange my day. What gives me energy? Do that thing first! Then I can carry that positivity and energy into other tasks or parts of my day.”

Eugene Starks: “ I always find I recharge when I spend time with family and friends. Another big way I avoid burnout is by working-out. Setting aside time to work on myself in this way puts me in the right frame of mind for the challenges I face weekly. Another rule I have is that I never drink alone to relieve stress. I find drinking alone never reduces stress. I enjoy drinking in fellowship with friends because the fellowship brings down my stress.”

Erin Issac : “The most powerful thing I do is remember what I’m working towards and what I want the future to be. That moment ahead of me can help me take one step closer, or it might just be part of the motivation for change. Either way, taking action is what’s going to eventually get me there. Take the suck and let it inspire you to do more. That’s one thing, but it’s usually coupled with a few others: take a break, move your body, don’t try to soothe with social media or sweets. The other thing I always have is a lifeline — that friend, mentor, cheerleader who can remind you who you are and what you’re doing this for.”

Lester Morales : “By having a strong external “why” and an internal look in the mirror, I force myself to be accountable. Knowing the purpose of what I am doing, whether it be an internal or external driving force, moves me forward. I get up every morning and think, ‘Today, I’m going to make my parents proud.’ When I think of doing anything that is hard during the day, that is my motivation. My parents instilled in me my strong internal drive. I promised myself long ago that the person I have to be most accountable to is myself. For example, if I tell myself that I’m going to get up and work out, the only person I am cheating is myself if I don’t do it. How are you accountable to other people if you don’t start with yourself? You can’t pour from an empty cup, so if you are taking care of you, your ability to take care of others magnifies.”

What do you do to motivate yourself when you’re running on empty?

The Syrup: Conflict Management

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 15:47:00 GMT

A reader reached out recently and said she was having issues with conflict management stemming from unclear roles and responsibilities between teams. Here are some steps I would look at taking to aid in the shift.

By Susan L Combs | July 07, 2023 at 07:14 AM

Shared from BenefitsPro

Conflict is never easy. We can sometimes kid ourselves that when it comes to business, it’s not personal. But it is. We aren’t working with machines; we’re working with people who have their own personalities, their own experiences, and their own aspirations.

A reader reached out recently and said she was having issues with conflict management stemming from unclear roles and responsibilities between teams. She feels that her team has been left out of brainstorming and decision-making processes. As a result, this is causing the culture to become exclusive rather than inclusive.

The easy answer would be to write out the processes and shift the culture, but there are various factors, including size, that can complicate matters. So, how can you be a champion within your own firm?

I worked for a large firm prior to starting my brokerage, and you could always see very quickly who the leaders were within a team. If that leader is you, it’s probably time to step up. You know how they say that change starts with you? I know it can sound cliché, but it really does. Oftentimes, when you put things in place to shift the culture within your team, you can serve as an example to others.

Here are some steps I would look at taking to aid in the shift:

Identify the source of the conflict or confusion. Is it a person or is it a process? If it’s a process, and there is an existing outline, it might be outdated. If it’s a person, it likely stems from fear.
Update and clearly define the roles and responsibilities of your team. This should involve creating a list of goals and tasks for which your team is responsible. This helps with overlap and prevents confusion. I would do a one-sheeter on this and just keep it simple.
After you have come up with the process, I would encourage you to set up meetings with other teams you’ll be working with closely in order to set the tone that your team wants to be inclusive and work together but wants to streamline the process. This will encourage others to follow suit.
Create and enforce boundaries. I’m not saying you should be the person who is always saying “that’s not my job,” but it can help your team take ownership of what they should and bring in an alternative team when it falls into their wheelhouse. This will help modeling become more inclusive, which is what you want.
Lead by example. If your team is feeling left out, don’t do that to another team. We all know everyone doesn’t need to be in every meeting, but sometimes by giving others the option to participate and letting them know that you value their voice, you’ll see a shift and they will start to value yours.

This isn’t an airtight strategy to prevent all conflict in your organization;, however, when there is conflict, it’s often due to a lack of direction or information. If there is a deficit, his will help to clarify both.

When you break it down, this type of conflict can often be resolved through a combination of effective communication, collaboration, and problem solving. But you must be on board and not everyone will be. My dad was a Major General in the Air Force and frequently had to look at different roles, responsibilities and conflict. When I was dealing with a business issue, I remember him once saying, “80% of issues revolve around personnel and all of it is personnel.”

By implementing these practices, teams can be more effective at resolving conflicts stemming from unclear roles and responsibilities. But it won’t happen overnight. You might have to throw some spaghetti on the wall until something sticks!

Good luck, my friend!

Introducing The Syrup – a new column by Susan L Combs

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 15:46:00 GMT

If you are looking for no fluff and a whole lot of heart, I’m your girl and this column is for you.

By Susan L Combs | June 23, 2023 at 07:03 AM

Reposted from BenefitsPro

Those days are long gone, but my father shared so much wisdom with me as I was growing up. One that has stuck with me is, “When someone gives you a piece of advice that impacts you, it’s your responsibility to share it with others.” So that’s what I will be doing with this new column “The Syrup.”

The idea of syrup can conjure up different thoughts and memories; it might be your favorite part of eating pancakes, or it might just be the sweetness your life needs. For me, it’s a reminder of the nuggets of wisdom my father left during my lifetime before he passed away from Agent Orange related throat cancer in 2018 after serving our country for over 39 years in 3 branches of our armed services. It also brings to mind how my career path allowed me to be present as a caregiver as his clock was winding down.

Here’s what I promise to you, I’ll shoot straight from the get-go. I’ve had a successful career in the insurance and financial services industry working in 37 states for nearly two decades. I’ve done a lot of things right but won’t hide the things I’ve done wrong. If you are looking for no fluff and a whole lot of heart, I’m your girl and this column is for you. Want to vent? Want advice? Have a question that you think others have, too? I’m here to give you the “syrup.” Just shoot me an email at scombs@combsandco.com and I’ll be sure to share your thoughts with our readers and connect it with some lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Until next month, go slay some dragons.

Feature Friday with Rebecca Rakoski

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 20:35:00 GMT

“I feel sort of really aware of how the… online cyber world has begun to take over reality.” Brad Paisley

2022:05

It’s time to talk cyber again… this time focusing on how the legal system is handling cyber claims/disputes/incidents/etc. That means we’re bringing one of the best cyber lawyers out there back to Did You Know that?

Rebecca Rakoski is a founding partner of XPAN Law Partners, a practice focused on better preparing and protecting their clients when it comes to all things cyber. This episode focuses a lot on how recent court decisions are providing clearer guidelines for how companies must handle their cyber footprints.

Learn more about Rebecca and XPAN by visiting the sites below:

Website: https://xpanlawpartners.com/

LinkedIn (personal): https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-rakoski-esq-1460b116/

LinkedIn (firm): https://www.linkedin.com/company/xpan-law-partners/

Twitter: @XPANLawPartners

Email: rrakoski@xpanlawpartners.com

FEATURE FRIDAY WITH NICOLE SOTO

Sat, 19 Feb 2022 02:00:00 GMT

“In the absence of willpower the most complete collection of virtues and talents is wholly worthless.” Aleister Crowley

2022:04

(NOTE: Nicole and I recorded this interview just before the official announcement she was joining the MFLH team for the 2022 CrossFit season.)

There’s no such thing as a perpetual motion machine, but my returning guest on Did You Know That? might come close.

Nicole Soto is a professional CrossFit athlete, entrepreneur, coach, wife, dog mom, and all-around inspiration. Nicole returns to DYKT? to talk about the upcoming 2022 CrossFit Games season, the kickoff of her new brand, and how she looks to build the right team to help her achieve the lofty goals she’s set.

You can learn more about Nicole and her MFLH teammates by visiting these Instagram accounts:

@Nicole_J_Soto

@soto_strong_pcs

@iamchrisharris (Christian Harris)

@winternicolette (Winter Rodriguez)

@wcarter45 (William Carter)

@movefastliftheavy

Learn more about the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games at https://games.crossfit.com/ .

4th Annual Pancakes for Roger Fundraiser

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 03:19:00 GMT

February 1st we kicked off Combs & Company’s annual campaign to support the University of Missouri School of Law Veterans Clinic , which helps veterans and their families navigate the VA claims process and secure disability benefits when they are faced with obstacles along the way.

Combs & Company will make a donation to the Veterans Clinic for every pancake-loving picture posted on social media and with the hashtag #PancakesForRoger throughout the month of February.

Follow along with the campaign at PancakesforRoger.com .

10 days in and we have already reached more than half the states in the US and several countries. We are excited to see so many familiar faces participating again this year, and love seeing all the new faces as well! Follow Penny Pancakes as she tracks the campaign around the world (updated every Tuesday and Friday).

Upcoming Events:

Join the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic for a pancake breakfast in honor of Major General Roger Combs this February 22, 2022, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Join us on March 1, 2022 from 10-11am, for an Open House Event at the Veterans Clinic, located at 820 Conley Avenue, Columbia, MO 65211.

Join us on March 4, 2022 from 3-5pm for a Book Launch Event at the Rusty Coffee Pot, located at 114 East Vermont, King City, MO 64463.

FEATURE FRIDAY WITH CHAD SCHROEDER

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 22:52:00 GMT

“All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward.” Ellen Glasgow

2022:03

CrossFit, as an exercise methodology and sport, is all about change. The just-completed CrossFit offseason saw some major changes, but at the same time, significant continuity. Helping me piece this dichotomy together is CrossFit’s official statistician, Chad Schroeder, who joins Did You Know That? for his second appearance.

Chad and I discuss the firing of Dave Castro, the offseason competitions, major athlete news, and how he’s prepping for the 2022 season. Speaking of which, the 2022 schedule is listed below if you’re interested in participating – at least in The Open – or just want to follow as a fan.

Lots more to learn about Chad via the connections below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-schroeder-93373a60/

Instagram: cschroeder111

Twitter: @cschroeder111

CrossFit Games: https://games.crossfit.com/games

2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games Season:

Open

2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games Open — Feb. 24-March 14, 2022

Quarterfinals

Individual Quarterfinal — March 24-27, 2022
Team Quarterfinal — April 7-10, 2022
Age Group Quarterfinal — April 21-24, 2022
- Occupational Games — April 21-24, 2022 (Finals for occupational athletes)

Semifinals

Individual and Team Semifinals
- Week 1: May 20-22, 2022
  - Torian Pro | Pat Rafter Arena
  - CrossFit Lowlands Throwdown
  - North American Semifinal (TBA)
- Week 2: May 27-29, 2022
  - Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge
  - CrossFit Fittest in Cape Town
- Week 3: June 3-5, 2022
  - Far East Throwdown
  - North America Semifinal (TBA)
- Week 4: June 10-12, 2022
  - CrossFit Atlas Games
  - CrossFit Strength in Depth
  - CrossFit Copa Sur
Age Group Semifinals
- Week 1 (Athletes in 14-49 Age Divisions): May 26-29, 2022
- Week 2 (Athletes in 50+ Age Divisions): June 2-5, 2022
Adaptive Semifinal — June 2-5, 2022 (Fittest crowned for Vision, Intellectual, Seated with Hip Function, Seated Without Hip Function, and Short Stature Divisions)

Last-Chance Qualifier

Last-Chance Qualifier (Individual Athletes Only) — June 29-July 1, 2022

Finals

2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games — Aug. 4-7, 2022

Music: “Hard Way” by AlexGrohl via Artlist

Feature Friday with Stephanie Rodin

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 12:02:00 GMT

“Science fiction encourages us to explore… all the futures, good and bad, that the human mind can envision.” Marion Zimmer Bradley

2022:02

Stephanie Rodin has graciously joined me again for another “top of” list. This time Steph and I are focusing on our top 5 science fiction media (books, movies, TV, radio shows, whatever). If you look back at Did You Know That? episode 2021:22 you’ll know how much fun Steph and I have discussing anything pop culture related. (Both our lists are below.)

Stephanie’s Picks:

#1: “Looper” (movie)

#2: “Dr Who” (reboot)

#3: “X-men” (movie franchise)

#4: “Battlestar Galactica” (reboot)

#5: “Star Trek” franchise (TV & movies)

Wildcard: “Alien”

Honorable Mention: “In Time”

Sean’s Picks:

#1: “The Martian” (book)

#2: “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (movie)

#3: “Fringe” (TV)

#4: “Edge of Tomorrow” (aka “Live Die Repeat”) (movie)

#5: “The Terminator” & “Terminator 2” (movies)

Wildcard: “The Forever War” (book)

Honorable Mention: “Galaxy Quest” (movie)

To find out more about Stephanie’s day job and her own podcast, check out the links below.

Website: https://rodinlegal.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanierodin/

Podcast: https://speakingwithsteph.libsyn.com/website

Music: “Best of Luck – Instrumental Version” by Katrina Stone via Artlist

#top5scifi #sciencefiction #didyouknowthat

Hashtags:

#top5scifi #top5sciencefiction #sciencefiction #didyouknowthat #indulgeyourcuriosity #youtubechannel

Feature Friday with Beckett Flannery

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 10:04:00 GMT

“A kind and compassionate act is often its own reward.” William John Bennett

2022:01

Given the intervening decades and experiences, it’s tough for me to remember my real mindset at 11 years old. I know sports – both playing and watching – dominated most of my waking thoughts. To say I had goals, short or long term, would be stretching the definition to almost a breaking point. Starting a business was not even in my subconscious. Charity was just a word. That’s what makes my next guest(s) on Did You Know That? so interesting.

Beckett Flannery is 11 years old. As of this recording, he’s 6+ months into running his first business, Beckett’s Bark Bites, and his motivations for starting the business were based in altruism. This is an inspiring, and humbling, conversation with a young man (and his mom, Jessica) who puts perspective around the motivations behind why we do things. This is a chat well worth your time.

To find out more about Beckett’s Bark Bites, or to order some for the canine companion, check out the sites below.

Venmo: @Beckett-Flannery-24 (order & pay directly from the app)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Becketts.Bark.Bites/ (order from the page)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYoMWUM3–5Ec-yobq-71A

#beckettsbarkbites #compassion #charity #altruism #entrepreneurship #didyouknowthat #indulgeyourcuriosity #youtubechannel

Feature Friday with Claire Poole

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 14:25:00 GMT

“On climate change, we often don’t fully appreciate that it is a problem. We think it is a problem waiting to happen.” Kofi Annan

“Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They’re made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.” Dan Gable

2021:27

What one word do you equate with both climate change and sports? I’ll give you a moment. For me? It’s passion. There are few topics that evoke more passionate responses than climate change and sports. It’s that common visceral response which spurred the creation of an organization focused on building positive environmental impacts through a partnership with sports organizations.

Claire Poole is a lover of nature, football (soccer in the U.S.), and rugby. Those passions are on full display with Sport Positive Summit and Sport Positive Leagues (links down below). These are Claire’s efforts to bring environmental changes to both the big stadiums and arenas as well as the fans’ everyday lives. She’s doing so by making it a competition. And what sports fan isn’t looking to always beat their arch nemesis?

Join us for an important and lively discussion on this episode of Did You Know That?.

Find out more about Claire and Sport Positive via connections below.

Claire’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairepoole/

Sport Positive LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sport-positive/

Sport Positive Summit Website: www.sportpositivesummit.com

Sport Positive Leagues Website: www.sportpositiveleagues.com

Twitter: @SportPosSummit

Twitter: @claireypoole

Feature Friday with Sheila Ronning

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 14:03:00 GMT

“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” Dolly Parton

2021:26

Twenty years ago, Sheila Ronning saw an opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of women. Like any good businessperson, she saw a market void and developed a program by which she could fill that void. Regardless of the motivations behind the growing market, Sheila knew that Women in the Boardroom could accomplish two objectives with each placement: increase the number of women serving on corporate boards and strengthen corporate governance by diversifying the voices on those boards.

Today, Women in the Boardroom is a go-to resource for companies looking to fill board positions with a quality candidate. (Full disclosure: a board on which I sit used their services to fill an open seat.) On this episode of Did You Know That?, Sheila discusses the genesis of the firm and how women can build and execute a plan to secure board positions. As you’ll learn, this effort goes beyond just kicking in the proverbial glass ceiling.

Learn more about Sheila and Women in the Boardroom via the accounts below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/147283/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womenintheboardroom/

Twitter: @BoardroomWomen

Instagram: @womenintheboardroom

Feature Friday with Nicole Soto

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 09:01:00 GMT

“Fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds’ worth of distance run” “If” by Rudyard Kipling

2021:25

Want to know a dirty secret about sports? A majority of professional athletes, across all sports, don’t earn enough from the sport to make ends meet. Many of these athletes have full-time jobs, even in-season, in order to support themselves and pursue their goal of making it to the “bigs.” This is the reality facing thousands of athletes in the still-evolving sport of CrossFit, and it’s why my next guest on Did You Know that? is really someone to emulate.

Nicole Soto has a master’s degree; she co-owns a CrossFit gym; she coaches group classes and personal clients; and she’s a highly respected nutritionist. In her spare moments, she spends time with her husband and two dogs, and prepares herself to compete at the highest levels of CrossFit. In her first year back competing, Nicole finished among the top 200 fittest women in the world. So, if you want to get past your excuses, you’ve come to the right place.

Learn more about Nicole and her gym via the accounts below:

Instagram (personal): @Nicole_J_Soto

Instagram (gym): @Rise_Athletics_

Facebook: Nicole Soto Learn more about CrossFit (the methodology and sport) at https://www.crossfit.com/

Feature Friday with Chad Schroeder

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 05:04:00 GMT

“Obsessed is a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated.” Unknown

2021:24

Sports and statistics seem to have been made for each other. Would we be so entranced by the history of a sport/game/league/franchise if we couldn’t marvel or argue about 56 (MLB), 92 (NHL), 100 (NBA), or 208 (NFL)? Maybe, but probably not.

What most sports statistics have in common is uniformity. If you want to break DiMaggio’s 56-game streak, then you will have to hit in 57 straight. But what if I told you there is a global sport where everything is the same for just a moment, but will be different an hour from now, and might not reflect anything that came before? What do the statistics mean then?

Well, that’s the challenge Chad Schroeder faces everyday as the official statistician of CrossFit. There are still clear winners in CrossFit, but how they earn the wins isn’t the same from hour to hour, day to day, or year to year. Yet somehow, he helps those following and working in the sport make sense of the chaos. Chad gives some insight into how he does that on this episode of Did You Know That?

Venus rising: These female brokers are reshaping the industry in their own image

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 12:05:00 GMT

This year’s Faces of Change panel at the Broker Expo featured an all-female lineup sharing their unique industry insights.

By Emily Payne | August 18, 2021 at 10:18 AM

The benefits industry has been increasingly struggling with a diversity issue as other industries embrace it. Thus, it seemed apt that this year’s Faces of Change panel at the BenefitsPRO Broker Expo featured an all-female lineup. Moderated by WellNet Healthcare’s Megan Chiarello , brokers Jessica Beames of BOK Financial Insurance, Stephanie Berger of Centered Insurance Solutions, Colleen Blum , Combs & Co., and Robyn Tikia of Risk Strategies Company were able to have a candid conversation about what it means to be a woman in a male-dominated field and how they’re forging a new path for others.

“It’s our job as females in our industry to tell younger generations that even though it is hard, it’s not as hard as it seems,” Blum said. “If we can find females who are good at talking to people and having organic conversations, you’re going to win business. It’s not as scary as we make it seem to be, as long as you have the work ethic.”

Between discussions of alternative-funding strategies and marketing tips, attendees learned how each advisor’s career path had been shaped by being a woman. “When I started out, there was a consultant that had amazing self-funded experience,” Beames said. “He had all of this knowledge, and I had the privilege of working with him, and I would just sit in his office and pepper him with questions. Hearing that information that seemed meaningless to him helped me in a meeting with a client or a prospect.

“That was not an easy mentorship to build,” Beames added, due to the hesitancy many older men have about the optics of spending too much time with a younger woman–even a colleague. “Feel comfortable meeting with your female colleagues regardless of their age. The simple fact is that there are many more men in this industry than women, and there is so much we can learn from you and we want to. Give us the opp and a safe place to do that.”

The panelists also had some tips for current female advisors shaping new recruits. “From a mentorship perspective, it’s important to teach assertiveness, persistence, resilience–and, truthfully, working harder than your male counterpart,” Tikia said. “Women really have to face a lot of isolation in this industry. But we’re also creative, out-of-the-box thinkers.”

Whether we want to admit it or not, there are some innate differences between the way men and women approach business–ones that female advisors can play to their advantage. “We’re more nurturing with those relationships,” Tikia said. “We’re also able to be more technical whereas men come across as more salesy.”

Berger stressed how important simply listening to a client is. “Sometimes it’s best to not even open the presentation and just ask, if we’re in the room, there’s a reason. What is it?”

Blum agreed that it’s important for female advisors to play to their strengths, rather than mimicking their predecessors. “If we can come to the table with a different perspective, we can change the dynamic of this industry,” she said. “It’s mostly HR that is talking to us. They can have a deeper conversation with us. Our clients know that at the end of the day we’re going to have their back.”

_______

Want to check out the original article? Click here !

Feature Friday with Will Hunt

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 11:55:00 GMT

How You’re Being Hacked

“Hackers are breaking the systems for profit. Before, it was about intellectual curiosity and pursuit of knowledge and thrill, and now hacking is big business.” Kevin Mitnick

2021:23

Not a day goes by now where you don’t read about some sort of cyberattack and how the motive was profit for the hackers. But what do hackers do with a stolen database of encrypted passwords? How do they breach systems to launch ransomware or bots or other exploitative software? Glad you asked.

Will Hunt has been professional hacker for almost a decade (he’s been working in tech even longer). He’s hired to break into companies’ systems to find vulnerabilities that can be walled off to make the company more secure. On this episode of Did You Know That? we discuss the cyber world from a hacker’s point of view. Little behind the curtain look at this burgeoning business.

You can learn about Will and In.security via the below:

Website: https://in.security

Email: contact@in.security

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-hunt/

Twitter: @Stealthsploit

If you’re interested in learning more about the mechanics of hacking, In.security also offers training sessions:

Hacking Enterprises – https://www.blackhat.com/us-21/training/schedule/index.html#hacking-enterprises—-edition-21889

Defending Enterprises – https://www.blackhat.com/us-21/training/schedule/#defending-enterprises-218911617901814

Music: “Night Rider” by Ian Post via Artlist

Feature Friday – Top 10 TV Shows!

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 10:53:00 GMT

“I liken actors and movies and TV shows to football teams. We all have our favorite ones.” Kristoffer Polaha

2021:22

The boob tube. The idiot box. The small screen. Whatever you call it, the inanimate TV is not always looked upon in a favorable light. Well, that doesn’t mean the shows that stream through the telly haven’t impacted us in favorable ways. So that’s what we’re focused on during this episode of Did You Know That?

Stephanie Rodin makes a celebrated return to the channel (first repeat guest) to talk about her – and my – top 10 TV shows of all time. Like all lists we’ve talked about, this is subject to change, but you should expect that by now.

So how do our lists (below) compare to yours? Where do you agree/disagree/have no idea? Let us know if any these would make your list or put your own list in the comments.

Just a reminder about what Stephanie does when she’s not watching TV, check out the contact points below.

Website: https://rodinlegal.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanierodin/

Twitter: @Rodinlegal

Music: “Easy Money” by Rex Banner via Artlist

Stephanie’s List

1. The West Wing

2. Sons of Anarchy

3. Six Feet Under

4. The Golden Girls

5. All In The Family

6. Quantum Leap

7. The Carol Burnett Show

8. The Daily Show with John Stewart

9. House

10. Dallas

Sean’s List:

1. M*A*S*H

2. Buffy/Angel/Firefly

3. The Carol Burnett Show

4. The Six Million Dollar Man

5. Person of Interest

6. Seinfeld

7. The Expanse

8. Cosmos (Carl Sagan)

9. Bosch

10. Mission:Impossible

Tenacious Tuesday with Tara Faquir

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 17:49:00 GMT

Your Skills Are Transferable :

There is a common trend in some incredible successful women these days, they tend to start in one industry – build some serious life skills & then are able to pivot into a totally different unrelated field that they never thought they’d end up in.

Today’s guest Tara Faquir Co-Founder of Trustate sits down with us to tell us all about her journey from her widely successful, exciting retail life at Nordstrom & Rent The Runway which led to a huge pivot into a little non-profit called Girl Scouts & landed her right to where she is at today – running a remarkably untouched industry with her best friend whom she met during a college transition.

Tara, like all of our guests defines unstoppable. She knows her strength & more importantly when it’s time to pivot to her next challenge. Listen along as she shares her journey & teaches us how although we may not see it now but our skills are incredibly transferrable if we just took some time to look harder into our day to days.

Check out Tara on LinkedIn and https://www.trustate.com/

Click here to listen to the lastest episode!

Feature Friday with Andy Schulkind

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 20:49:00 GMT

“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” Bob Marley

2021:21

Live concerts. That’s what I missed most during the COVID pandemic. The keyboard on which I type this is more musical inclined than I am, but music… music inspires a reaction in me unlike any other medium. And that’s what I find so mysterious about music – it’s simply vibrations in the air. But all human cultures have some form of music or rhythm. The combination of those vibrations can perform magic.

This Top 10 episode of Did You Know That? – musical acts – was the toughest list for me to generate, as it was for my guest, Andy Schulkind. In fact, as you’ll find out in this episode, Andy was the genesis of this Top 10 series.

We’ve given you our lists (see below); what say you? Where do you agree/disagree/have no idea? Let us know if any these would make your list or put your own list in the comments.

If you’re curious what Andy does when not opining on music, check out the below.

Website: https://www.andigo.com/resources/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewschulkind/

Twitter: @AndrewSchulkind

Music: “Easy Money” by Rex Banner via Artlist

Andy’s List

1. The Who

2. Paul Simon

3. Thelonious Monk

4. John Coltrane

5. Dave Brubeck

6. Abby Lincoln

7. B.B. King

8. The Style Council

9. Frank Zappa

10. Chet Atkins

Sean’s List:

1. Maynard James Keenan (Tool/A Perfect Circle/Puscifer)

2. David Bowie

3. Rush

4. The Police

5. Silversun Pickups

6. Godsmack

7. The Beatles

8. Duran Duran

9. Guns N Roses

10. VNV Nation

#music #top10music #top10list #andigo #didyouknowthat #indulgeyourcuriosity #youtubechannel

Feature Friday with David Temple & Sean O’Rourke

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 10:03:00 GMT

“So many books, so little time.” Frank Zappa

2021:20

This might just be me, but I’ve often thought, the best reason to integrate a computer with my brain is so I could read 100 books a day. But then I think, that would defeat the whole purpose of the experience. While I don’t read as many physical books as I used to (Kindle & audio predominate), turning pages is still a joyful accomplishment.

David Temple and I met in 1996. Our friendship grew over talks about books, movies, TV, music, writing, etc., etc., etc. So there’s no one I wanted to kick off the Top 10 List of Did You Know That? episodes than him. David, being the author of many a novel, gets books.

Our lists are below (the episode highlights why we chose these). Let us know if any these would make your list or put your own list in the comments.

You can learn all about David and his works via the various channels below. His latest novel, “The Impostor,” will be released on July 1, 2021.

Books: https://geni.us/DavidTempleBooks

Podcast: https://davidtemplebooks.com/podcasts/naked-monday (or wherever you get your podcasts)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidetemple/

Twitter: @davetemple

Instagram: davidtempleauthor

Music: “Easy Money” by Rex Banner via Artlist

David’s List:

1. The Four Agreements (Don Miguel Ruiz & Janet Mills)

2. The Force (Don Winslow)

3. Into the Black Nowhere (Meg Gardiner)

4. On Writing (Stephen King)

5. The War of Art (Steven Pressfield)

6. The Silence of the Lambs (Thomas Harris)

7. The Power of Now (Eckhart Tolle)

8. Savage Son (Jack Carr)

9. The Chain (Adrian McKinty)

10. Falling (T. J. Newman)

Sean’s List:

1. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)

2. The Road (Cormac McCarthy)

3. Alexander Hamilton (Ron Chernow)

4. Muhammed Ali (Thomas Hauser)

5. Days of Grace (Arthur Ashe)

6. Jurassic Park (Michael Crichton)

7. Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth (Grant Morrison & Dave McKean)

8. Man’s Search for Meaning (Viktor Frankel)

9. Into Thin Air (Jon Krakauer)

10. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)

Tenacious Tuesday with Gretta Zutz

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 11:52:00 GMT

Fertility Isn’t A Dirty Word – How Opening Up About It Changed Everything

Fertility is a hush hush topic that unless you’re in it, many don’t understand. Time to shake that up.

Gretta Zutz sits down with us today to share her journey, how opening up about her story changed everything for her and her family and how she is now dedicated to implementing fertility in her financial services practice in order to support her clients & friends. If you’d like to have a conversation with Gretta about support groups, any doctors she used etc., feel free to connect with Gretta directly on LinkedIn by clicking HERE !

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fertility-isnt-dirty-word-how-opening-up-about-it-changed/id1525146944?i=1000524507164

To connect with the Try & Stop Me Podcast host, Colleen Blum, click HERE !

Feature Friday with DYKT? Snippets

Fri, 21 May 2021 09:37:00 GMT

“Fall down seven times, stand up eight.” Japanese Proverb

Resilience is a foundational component of human nature and business. The ability to get up sometimes is all that separates the successful from the also-rans, because getting knocked down is unavoidable in many instances. Like cyber.

The phrase du jour about cyber is, it’s not if but when you’ll experience a cyber event. Unfortunately, this is not hyperbole; it’s 99.782% fact, especially for businesses. So what’s a business to do? Get resilient.

DYKT? Snippets Ep. 3 touches on cyber resiliency, cyber risks, and where cyber insurance fits into the picture. The five videos take less than 20 minutes but could prove invaluable in preparing your business for the inevitable.

Music: “Camaro” by Oliver Michael via Artlist

Tenacious Tuesday with Chelsea Whalley

Tue, 18 May 2021 16:15:00 GMT

Her Inspiring Road To Alignment with Chelsea Whalley

We all get taught at a young age, make a plan for your life and follow that plan until you accomplish your goal right. Heck we talk about that here…

But what do you do when life happens right smack in the middle of that journey? Where is that clear path in life when you’re facing an unexpected injury that you have no control over when or if it heals?

Chelsea Whalley Partner & COO of J Donovan Financial had just that, her vision was set, she knew exactly where she was going in life. On her way to becoming a doctor, mid season into her college softball career when a freak accident happened during warm ups. In that moment whether she knew it or not, her whole life was about to be completely redirected as the injury she faced was about to bring her far bigger challenges and a totally different path in life.

Listen along as she shares her inspiring journey, the struggles through healing and how she was able to find the strength & alignment back within herself and her life regardless of how life tried to knock her off course.

“I will never question again whether I have the strength to go through something hard.” – Chelsea Whalley @benefitsboss

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/try-and-stop-me/id1525146944#episodeGuid=3d8e1b3d-f1e1-4f80-bf81-0a6727ac22f7

YouTube:

Feature Friday with Jay Shifman

Fri, 14 May 2021 09:35:00 GMT

“The attempt to escape from pain, is what creates more pain.” Gabor Maté

2021:18

Addiction. I think it’s a topic misunderstood by all but the addict themselves. So who better to talk about addiction, misuse/abuse, and the road to recovery than someone who has lived it?

Jay Shifman’s story isn’t entirely unique or salacious. In some ways, it’s the typical roller coaster associated with addiction and recovery. But Jay Shifman’s view of his addiction, recovery, and how he helps others struggling with his former demons is very different from the common broadcasts around the topic. That’s why he’s joining me on this episode of Did You Know That?

You can reach out to Jay via his myriad of contact points:

Website: https://campsite.bio/cys_jay

Instagram: jayshifman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayshifman/

Twitter: @CYS_Jay

Music: “Everybody Get Up” by Ian Post via Artlist

Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement Updates

Thu, 13 May 2021 14:00:00 GMT

You and/or your employees may be receiving information about a Blue Cross Blue Shield Class Action Settlement soon.

You may be eligible to submit a claim if you are an INDIVIDUAL, INSURED GROUP (and their employees) or a SELF-FUNDED ACCOUNT that purchased or was enrolled in a Blue Cross or Blue Shield from February 7, 2008 through October 16, 2020. This includes groups (and their employees) purchasing coverage through an Association Plan that utilizes one of these insurance companies.

The Net Settlement Fund is estimated to be approximately $1.9 billion after attorney fees, administration expenses and other costs are deducted from the total $2.67 billion Settlement Fund.

We can not estimate how much you might be eligible to receive as it will be based on the number of claimants and several other factors. If the total payment for any claimant is equal or less than $5.00, no payment will be made.

To learn more, please visit the official Settlement Website: http://bcbssettlement.com

Below is also some additional contact information for your reference.

The settlement website: www.BCBSsettlement.com
Toll-free inquiry number: (888)681-1142
Email address: info@BCBSsettlement.com

5 Things Every Small Business Owner Should Know About The American Rescue Plan Act

Wed, 12 May 2021 17:40:00 GMT

by Gene Marks

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 aims to help the American economy recover after a long and difficult year of shutdowns and hardships related to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’re a small business owner, here are the five things you need to know about it:

1. More businesses are eligible for PPP loans Until May 31

Not only did the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) receive an additional $7.25 billion as part of the legislation, but more small businesses are now eligible to apply.

The program was expanded to include internet-only news and periodical publishers with more than one location. Larger 501(c)(3) organizations and veteran organizations that employ not more than 500 employees per physical location can participate now as well. The broader eligibility standards also allow larger 501(c)(6) organizations, domestic marketing organizations, and additional covered not-for-profit entities that employ not more than 300 employees per physical location to apply for program benefits.

Via a directive from the Biden Administration prior to the passage of the bill, independent contractors and sole proprietors who apply for the loan can now use “gross income” (line 7 on their Schedule C tax form) instead of “net income” as a means to calculate their loan availability, a change that will greatly expand the size of the loans for many.

Most of the other conditions of the program still apply, including second-round loans that are targeted toward businesses that have experienced a decline in revenues and an expansion in the types of expenses that can be used for forgiveness.

On March 25, Congress extended the Paycheck Protection Program application deadline. The legislation will set a new application deadline of May 31, allowing the Small Business Administration (SBA) to continue processing applications for up to 30 days past the new date.

2. There’s a new, grant program for restaurant and bar owners.

It’s called the Restaurant Revitalization Fund , and it is designed for restaurants, bars, food stands, food trucks, food carts, caterers, saloons, inns, taverns, lounges, brewpubs, tasting rooms, taprooms and any licensed facility or premise of a beverage alcohol producer where the public may taste, sample, or purchase products, or other similar place of business in which the public or patrons assemble for the primary purpose of being served food or drink.

Those entities can receive up to $10 million as compensation for any reduction in revenues they experienced in 2020 compared to 2019. The money must be spent on certain things like payroll and operating costs.

The legislation allocated nearly $29 billion to this fund, with $5 billion set aside for eligible applicants that have 2019 gross receipts of $500,000 or less. The bill also charges the Small Business Administration (SBA) with awarding grants in “an equitable manner to eligible entities of different sizes based on annual gross receipts.” During the first 21 days of the grants, the SBA will prioritize applications from restaurants owned and operated or controlled by women, veterans, or socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

Applications for the fund are not available as of this writing but will eventually be found on the Small Business Administration’s website .

3. More grants are targeted at businesses located in low-income communities.

A low-income community is generally defined as where the average income of its residents is 50-80 percent of the average income of its surrounding communities. If the SBA determines that your business is located in one of these areas , then you may be eligible for a special grant.

The bill designated $15 billion for grants for businesses located in low-income communities that have no more than 300 employees and that have suffered an economic loss of more than 30 percent, as determined by the amount that the entity’s gross receipts declined during an eight-week period between March 2, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2021, relative to a comparable eight-week period immediately preceding March 2, 2020.

In addition, and no later than 14 days after the American Rescue Plan Act is enacted, the SBA must initiate a two-week period of accepting applications from any applicants that previously applied for targeted Advances under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and, because of lack of funds, did not receive the amount to which they were entitled.

The SBA can also make grants of $5,000 to “severely impacted” small businesses, which are eligible entities that have suffered an economic loss of more than 50 percent and have no more than 10 employees. Following that, the SBA can make $5,000 grants to “substantially impacted” businesses, which are those with no more than 10 employees that can demonstrate a loss of between 30 percent and 50 percent.

If you’re in an affected area, you can apply for these grants directly on the Small Business Administration’s website.

4. A new tax credit will help pay for your employees’ health insurance.

Because it’s been around for so long, many employers and their workers recognize the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, better known as COBRA. The Act allows employees to continue their health care coverage with their employer for a set period of time even after parting ways by continuing to pay their health insurance premiums.

When companies were involuntarily forced to lay off workers as a result of the pandemic, many workers risked losing their health coverage because they couldn’t afford the premiums. The American Rescue Plan Act now provides businesses with a tax credit that will effectively reimburse them for the cost of covering these premiums. The credit expires on September 30 and comes with other limitations, so it’s best to speak to your tax or payroll advisor about your particulars.

5. Finally, two additional (and generous) tax credits have been extended.

The Employee Retention Tax Credit allows companies who were either partially or fully shut down in a quarter or experienced a revenue decline of more than 20 percent in any quarter of 2021 (or 50 percent in any quarter of 2020) compared to 2019 to receive a generous (up to $7,000 per employee per quarter in 2021) tax credit against the payroll taxes owed. The credit can be taken even if you’re participating in the Paycheck Protection Program (although you can’t use the same payroll amounts to both calculate forgiveness and for the credit) and is calculated on your quarterly federal 941 payroll tax return. What’s great about this credit is that it’s refundable – if the credit is larger than the taxes owed you can get cash for the difference.

The American Rescue Plan Act extends this credit through December 31.

Although the requirements of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act became voluntary in 2021, if you’re still providing compensation to employees who miss work because of COVID-related illness to themselves or family members, you can still claim the tax credit associated with the Act to get reimbursement. Eligible reasons for missing work have been expanded to now include vaccinations and their side effects.

This credit is also taken on your quarterly federal 941 payroll tax return and has now been extended through September 30.

Click Here for the original article!

Feature Friday with Rebecca Rakoski

Fri, 07 May 2021 12:15:00 GMT

“No longer are technology and cyber issues confined to tech geeks in some backroom. In the digital age, IT issues are front and center.” Will Hurd

2021:17

During my 25+ years in and around technology, the most common refrain from those on the business side of a company when it came to cyber was, “It’s an IT problem.” That is not the case any longer. Your IT folks have to be involved in the discussion, but cyber is most definitely a business problem now. Don’t believe me? Maybe my next guest on Did You Know That? can convince you.

Rebecca Rakoski is a founding partner of XPAN Law Partners, a practice primarily dedicated to their client’s cyber welfare. Our conversation focuses on what that means for businesses; some best practices required to stay in “compliance;” and a host of other elements of a cyber program.

Website: https://xpanlawpartners.com/

LinkedIn (personal): https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-rakoski-esq-1460b116/

LinkedIn (firm): https://www.linkedin.com/company/xpan-law-partners/

Twitter: @XPANLawPartners

Email: rrakoski@xpanlawpartners.com

Tenacious Tuesday with Lester Morales

Tue, 04 May 2021 09:22:00 GMT

Choose Your Own Adventure With Guest Lester Morales

“Take the next step or choose to let it cripple you.” The wise words from the incredibly impactful man himself, Lester Morales is our next guest.

Lester is no newbie to the game of a go-getter. After many years as a super successful sales leader, he took a good look around and knew there was a bigger impact to be made in his industry & more importantly his life. With the help of wise words from his mom and a strong belief in himself, he chose to take the leap of faith and opened the doors of Next Impact, LLC.

What happened would be enough to knock many others of course, still after major hits he has proven to never back down and is as successful as ever running a now 7 figure business he gets to call his own.

Lester’s journey is a true definition that you don’t get to choose the cards you’re dealt on the journey in life, what you do get to choose is how you move forward to make an impact from that.

Connect with Lester on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lester-j-morales-5064b91/

Instagram: @collblum & @tryandstopmepodcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/try-and-stop-me/id1525146944#episodeGuid=da6af75b-96b8-4d34-917a-48ec70ee5c85

Feature Friday with James Mottola!

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 12:18:00 GMT

The United States Secret Service was established in 1865 to combat counterfeiting. In 1901, the agency was charged with protecting America’s political leaders, their families, and visiting heads of state or government.

2021:16

James Mottola is a frequent collaborator of mine on the Everything Cyber playlist, as well as other engagements revolving around cybersecurity and cyber liability. What some of you may not know is that Jim spent 20+ years in the United States Secret Service. That’s where he was indoctrinated into the world of cyber.

We’re taking this episode of Did You Know That? to explore Jim’s time with the Secret Service, talk about the agency’s mission, and discuss how it prepared him for the work he does today. While Jim doesn’t reveal any agency secrets, you will get a better idea of how it’s disparate mandates are handled and why there is intense competition among all government agencies.

You can learn more about Jim and his current job by visiting the sites below:

Porzio Compliance Services: https://porziocomplianceservices.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmottola/

Music: “Come Get Yours – Instrumental” by Bunker Buster via Artlist

Employer’s Responsibility for New COBRA Subsidy Notifications

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 13:30:00 GMT

We know as employers you have a lot on your plate right now, and unfortunately we are going to add some parmesan, but know we are here to help in any way we can. You may have been seeing in the news about this new COBRA subsidy that will allow for former employees who were involuntarily terminated or experienced a reduction in hours to get “free” COBRA for six months (April 1-Sept 30). That isn’t just smoke and mirrors, it is true, but it will require some work on your end.

Below is the game plan:

Did you have any former employee that their coverage was lost due to involuntary job loss or a reduction in hours of work who is still covered by COBRA? (typically anyone terminated since November 2019)
If the answer to #1 was yes, then you are going to have to send the attached notices to all of the former employees by May 31 ^st , 2021 or be subject to a penalty that is yet to be determined.
If the answer is currently no however layoffs will occur between April 1- September 30 ^th , please refer to the attached documents for your updated COBRA notice that will need to be sent to the employee being laid off or reduced hours.

So what does this mean if you are on the hook to send these notices?

That the COBRA qualified individual is not eligible for a subsidy if they can obtain coverage under another group plan or Medicare.
The subsidy is only available for someone that that has been involuntarily terminated (not for gross misconduct) or had a reduction in hours.

Who pays?

For employers with 20+ employees, the premium assistance will be delivered through the employer paying COBRA premiums to the insurance carrier (or covering the cost of providing COBRA coverage under a self-insured plan) and then taking a payroll tax credit to recoup the cost of covering COBRA premiums or costs. Employers will treat the subsidy as a credit against the employer’s share of Medicare tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 3111(b).
If the credit exceeds the taxes owed for a quarter, the excess will be refundable.

*Please discuss with your CPA for more information regarding the tax credit/refundable amounts.

So what do I have to do again?

Fill out the “ Alternative Notice ” that is attached (just the areas that are highlighted)
Send that out via email or first class mail along with the Summary of Provisions Application & the COBRA application by May 31, 2021 – the former employee will have 60 days from the date received to send back the applications to you. Flip them to us when you get them.
Also, send the “ Summary of COBRA Premium Assistance Provision ” that includes the form to request the premium assistance as an Assistance Eligible Individual.
You’ll have to send one more notice out, the “ Notice of Expiration of Period of Premium Assistance ” notice that has to hit their inbox between August 15 – September 15 to remind them to drop the COBRA if they do not have any intentions of paying for it after the subsidy is over.

Know that this is ever evolving and that there will be a lot of questions coming down the pike. We are in your corner as always to help. Still have questions? Click Here for common FAQs!

Looking for the packet of sample notices? Download the packet at the hyperlink below!

arpa-cobra-in-2021-forms-packet

Download

Feature Friday with DYKT? Snippets

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 09:37:00 GMT

“The five most efficient cyber defenders are: Anticipation, Education, Detection, Reaction and Resilience. Do remember: Cybersecurity is much more than an IT topic.” Stephane Nappo

And now Part 2 of the 2-part premiere of DYKT? Snippets. We’re closing out the conversation about the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYSDFS) Part 500 cyber regulations. Be sure to watch Part 1 before diving into these videos.

For context, here are some links for the regulations & the actual requirements:

Who NYSDFS Supervises: https://www.dfs.ny.gov/who_we_supervise

NYSDFS Industry Definitions: https://www.dfs.ny.gov/institution_definition

NYSDFS Cybersecurity Resource Ctr: https://www.dfs.ny.gov/industry_guidance/cybersecurity

Regulation Sections:

500.02 – Cybersecurity Program

500.03 – Cybersecurity Policy

500.04 – Chief Information Security Officer (exempt)

500.05 – Penetration Testing & Vulnerability Assessments (exempt)

500.06 – Audit Trail (exempt)

500.07 – Access Privileges

500.08 – Application Security (exempt)

500.09 – Risk Assessment

500.10 – Cybersecurity Personnel and Intelligence (exempt)

500.11 – Third Party Service Provider Security Policy

500.12 – Multi-Factor Authentication (exempt)

500.13 – Limitations on Data Retention

500.14 – Training and Monitoring (exempt)

500.15 – Encryption of Nonpublic Information (exempt)

500.16 – Incident Response Plan (exempt)

500.17 – Notices to Superintendent

Music: “Camaro” by Oliver Michael via Artlist

Tenacious Tuesday with Christina Passmore

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 14:26:00 GMT

Check out the latest episode of the “Try and Stop Me” Podcast! Learn about Christina Passmore’s inspirational journey as Colleen Blum talks to her about travle, beauty and when she realized: “I Can Kinda Write”

Flight Attendant, Beauty Brand Amazon Seller turned Successful Copywriting Business CEO

Christina Passmore travels the world as a seasoned flight attendant for a large Canadian Airline, during some big life changes she set out to make some side money and dove into the Amazon world where she she quickly gained good traction in becoming a Beauty Brand Amazon Seller. She was still paying the bills with the airline salary while building her Amazon business all until COVID hit and travel came to a screeching halt. Christina knew she needed to pivot quickly so she teamed up with a mentor of hers where she was asked the question I’m sure we’d ALL dread:

What are you good at?

Who can honestly answer that?! + Add a meaningfully response, when you’re already feeling down? Not many of us.

Christina’s response: “Well I can Kinda write”.

Listen in as she shares her journey & how that “kinda” turned into on going success and continued future dreams. She even drops in some pointers for anyone looking to get started in the e-commerce space.

Give her a follow on IG @copybychristina

Now Available on your Favorite Podcast Platform

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/try-and-stop-me/id1525146944?uo=4

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4h8CgliCHvAZvYl3kXQGOa

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwOj_bbR_Wq2TDdWxtIeG0g

Google Podcast: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8yYjYzNDViOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

Feature Friday with DYKT? Snippets

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 11:06:00 GMT

“The five most efficient cyber defenders are: Anticipation, Education, Detection, Reaction and Resilience. Do remember: Cybersecurity is much more than an IT topic.” Stephane Nappo

We’re shaking things up here at Did You Know That? We’re always looking to bring you informative conversations that could better your business and sometimes, your life. But that doesn’t always have to be in long-form interviews. So, may we present, drumroll please…

DYKT? Snippets.

DYKT? Snippets will be episodes featuring a collection of short videos on a particular topic. What that topic may be will always be a surprise. For this kickoff event, we’re going big with a 2-part premiere episode.

In 2017, the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYSDFS) Part 500 cyber regulations went live. These regulations apply to certain businesses licensed by the NYSDFS to operate in New York. While the regulations have their shortcomings, in the scope of state-backed cyber laws, they’ve proven to be quite reasonable. Episodes 1 & 2 will feature videos that outline how businesses can utilize these requirements to get their cyber houses in order.

For context around the videos, here are some links for the regulations & the actual requirements:

Who NYSDFS Supervises: https://www.dfs.ny.gov/who_we_supervise

NYSDFS Industry Definitions: https://www.dfs.ny.gov/institution_definition

NYSDFS Cybersecurity Resource Ctr: https://www.dfs.ny.gov/industry_guidance/cybersecurity

Regulation Sections:

500.02 – Cybersecurity Program

500.03 – Cybersecurity Policy

500.04 – Chief Information Security Officer (exempt)

500.05 – Penetration Testing & Vulnerability Assessments (exempt)

500.06 – Audit Trail (exempt)

500.07 – Access Privileges

500.08 – Application Security (exempt)

500.09 – Risk Assessment

500.10 – Cybersecurity Personnel and Intelligence (exempt)

500.11 – Third Party Service Provider Security Policy

500.12 – Multi-Factor Authentication (exempt)

500.13 – Limitations on Data Retention

500.14 – Training and Monitoring (exempt)

500.15 – Encryption of Nonpublic Information (exempt)

500.16 – Incident Response Plan (exempt)

500.17 – Notices to Superintendent

Music: “Camaro” by Oliver Michael via Artlist

Feature Friday with Jim Mottola

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 10:52:00 GMT

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Benjamin Franklin

COVID-19 has certainly made its presence felt at the two-decade mark of the 21st Century (both negatively and positively). The current bent of the world toward vaccinations as a prerequisite for reopening naturally leads to a conversation about identification.

Jim Mottola and I talked about this very topic on the premier episode of Everything Cyber, so we’re returning to this fertile ground to address the changes since and possible future of dynamic identification.

James Mottola: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmottola/
Sean O’Rourke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scorcyber/

Music: “Tunnel Vision” by Stanley Gurvich via Artlist

Feature Friday with Judy Selby

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 09:36:00 GMT

“Rather than fearing or ignoring cyberattacks, do ensure your cyber resilience to them.” Stephane Nappo

Episode 2021:13

In a few decades, historians will write tomes explaining how the world evolved into its current state based on the 366 days that made up the year 2020. Among the explanations will be lessons learned during the intervening years and the mistakes repeated. Those in the technology arena don’t have the luxury of learning lessons over time or of repeated mistakes.

The next guest on Did You Know That? knows the perils of technology, but she’s more interested in how companies protect themselves from those perils. Judy Selby is an attorney, with a specialty in cyber insurance (a subject with which I’m familiar). Our conversation is about how businesses prepare for the inevitable cyber event and how they can thrive after being hit. This is a must watch/listen.

Find out more about Judy and her expertise via the links below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judyselby/

Hinshaw website: https://www.hinshawlaw.com/professionals-judith-selby.html

Music: “Caution” by Skrxlla via Artlist

No Foolin’ – 8 Things to Know About the New COBRA Subsidy

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 19:35:00 GMT

Curious about how the ARPA COBRA Subsidies work? Check out this article from Benefit Resource !

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was passed through the House and Senate this week. The bill was signed into law on March 11, 2021. While the specifics are still developing, here are 8 things to know about the COBRA subsidy that is included in the bill.

Curious about how the ARPA COBRA Subsidies work? Check out this article from Benefit Resource !

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was passed through the House and Senate this week. The bill was signed into law on March 11, 2021. While the specifics are still developing, here are 8 things to know about the COBRA subsidy that is included in the bill.

1. It’s a 100% subsidy.

While there were several iterations of the bill and subsidies , the final version includes a 100% subsidy. This will allow eligible individuals to obtain COBRA continuation coverage for their health plan without paying COBRA premiums.

2. It’s specific.

The COBRA subsidy is only available for premiums due from April 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021, referred to as the subsidy period. In order to be eligible, individuals must be in their 18-month Federal COBRA Coverage period.

3. Coverage is not automatic.

While newly eligible individuals will not need to pay premiums, they will still need to elect COBRA coverage in order to take advantage of the subsidy.

4. Employers are responsible for paying premiums, but receive a tax credit.

Employers sponsoring a group health plan will be responsible for paying health insurance carriers for the premiums. They will be reimbursed for 100% of the COBRA premiums through tax credits against certain payroll taxes.

5. New and previous qualified beneficiaries may be eligible.

The COBRA subsidy is available for individuals who are or become qualified beneficiaries as a result of involuntary termination of employment or a reduction in hours. This may include individuals who:

become eligible for COBRA during the subsidy period
previously elected COBRA coverage and have paid premiums for prior months
have not elected COBRA coverage but are still eligible to elect COBRA

6. Eligible individuals will need to be notified.

Eligible individuals will need to receive an updated notification regarding their rights to COBRA and the COBRA subsidy. The Department of Labor and Department of Health and Human Services is expected to provide new model notices within 30-days of enactment of the law.

7. Subsidies apply to Group Health Plans, except FSAs.

The 100% COBRA subsidy applies to the underlying medical coverage, dental and vision plans. Participants may still be responsible for premiums if they elect coverage for an FSA (or other benefits being offered post-employment).

8. Individuals could elect to change coverage.

If an employer permits individuals to change coverage, the premium subsidy cannot exceed the cost of the coverage option the individual was in at the time of the qualifying event.

For example: Assume at the time of termination an employee was enrolled in Plan A and the premium was $500 per month. They have an opportunity to enroll in Plan B, but it costs $700 per month. The employee’s subsidy cannot exceed the original premium of $500 per month.

Feature Friday with Shira Fisher

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 10:57:00 GMT

“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked, and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for is the greatest poverty.” Mother Teresa

Episode 2021:12

Homelessness has been an issue for humans since a documented history was begun – and probably before. Like most complex societal issues, solutions have been tried, discarded, tried again, discarded again, and so on. Why would efforts in 2021 be different?

That and many other questions are addressed in this episode of Did You Know That? Shira Fisher has spent 13+ years of her life working for organizations using modern technologies, data, and approaches to put a dent in the 55,000 homeless in New York City. Despite the enormity of the effort and the incremental forward progress, she remains convinced this is one societal issue that can be solved. After you experience this conversation, you might as well.

Find out more about Shira and her background via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shira-fisher-8017667/ .

Music: “What Makes Us Human” by Attila Erdelyi via Artlist

Tenacious Tuesday with Kristin Andree

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 11:52:00 GMT

YOU’RE NOT FOR EVERYONE with Guest Kristin Andree

“Have you ever felt you spend so much time living your life, that you forget to enjoy it?

That the place you find yourself in seems almost unrecognizable, leaving you to wonder, how did I get here?”

Our next guest, Kristin Andree is helping us get right down into it!

Kristin is an Author, Speaker, Business Coach and Podcast Host.

Today’s episode we are diving deep into her new book “You’re Not For Everyone, But You Can Be For Everyone.”

Like the episode? Be sure to grab the book on Amazon.

Kristin Andree Contact:

Website: https://andreegroup.com/about-us/

LinkedIn: Kristin Andree

Instagram: @andreegroup

Feature Friday with Christopher Young

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 10:54:00 GMT

(NOTE: Apologies in advance for the volume of my microphone. It apparently didn’t fully show up for the interview after testing.)

“Action indeed is the sole medium of expression for ethics.” Jane Addams

My enthrallment with history didn’t start until I met Mr. Ed Powers. Mr. Powers still teaches history where I went to high school and it’s he who lit the fuse. To this day – been a whole lotta days since – I still remember something he said during a discussion about the Vietnam War. To paraphrase, you can’t fight an -ism (e.g., Communism, Socialism, Capitalism, Buddhism, etc.). The -ism is an idea/philosophy/crutch utilized by people. So for me, any argument for/against an -ism is really about people.

How’s this relate to episode 2021:11 of Did You Know That? Christopher Young is all about people, specifically, the ethical actions of people in the business world. (Please hold all snarky comments until after the interview.) The world is made up of a lot of different -ism’s as they relate to business, which means there are a lot of people making business decisions on a second by second basis. We talk about how they’re making those decisions and how they can be better.

To find out more about Christopher and his work, check out the various sites below.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwyoung/

Website: https://www.redmapecon.com/

Instagram: @theredmaplegroup

Twitter: @TheRMGroup_1

Rutgers University: https://www.business.rutgers.edu/faculty/christopher-young

Music: “Tunnel Vision” by Stanley Gurvich via Artlist

#businessethics #ethics #capitalism #incentives #financialincentives #didyouknowthat #indulgeyourcuriosity #youtubechannel

Feature Friday with Christian Dysart

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 09:44:00 GMT

“You can be a career professional as a judge, a prosecutor, sometimes as a defense attorney, and never insist on fairness and justice. That’s tragic and that’s what we have to change.” Bryan Stevenson

Episode 2021:10

When you read the term defense attorney, what or who springs to mind? Hold that image in your mind until you meet my next guest on Did You Know That?

Christian Dysart probably doesn’t fit the narrative in your head as to what or who a defense attorney should be. But he has all the traits you’d want in the person fighting for your freedom/life. This is a conversation about the role of a defense attorney, criminal law, and how the system works (or doesn’t work) for those accused of a crime.

You can find out more about Christian and his work at:

Website: https://www.dysartwillis.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-e-dysart-9b412a4/

Twitter: @dysartwillis

Instagram: @dysartwillis

Music: “Taurus” by Ace via Artlist

Feature Friday with Colleen Blum

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 09:17:00 GMT

“Where I was born and where and how I have lived is unimportant. It is what I have done with where I have been that should be of interest.” Georgia O’Keeffe

Episode 2021:9

Je ne sais quoi… an indescribable quality that makes someone or something so appealing. The “it” factor. It’s elusive, can’t be taught, but you know it when you see/hear/taste/smell/feel it.

As you’ll learn pretty quick during the next episode of Did You Know That?, Colleen Blum has all the “it” qualities you can envision. But she is where she is today because those qualities aren’t idle; she has put them to work for the last decade to reach a point of daily happiness. That is an accomplishment worth talking about, which we do.

Join us for a fun, engaging conversation and then go check out Colleen’s own podcast, “Try And Stop Me” (both on podcast platforms & YouTube), and other online accounts.

Try And Stop Me (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwOj_bbR_Wq2TDdWxtIeG0g

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenblum/

Instagram: tryandstopmepodcast

Combs & Company: https://combsandco.com/about__trashed/colleen-blum/

Music: “You Can’t Stop Me” by RocknStock via Artlist

#perseverance #ambition #drive #courage #tryandstopmepodcast #didyouknowthat #indulgeyourcuriosity #youtubechannel

Feature Friday with Lyrissa Lidsky on the next episode of “Did You Know That?” with Host Sean O’Rourke

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 09:55:00 GMT

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Episode 2021:8

It can be argued these 45 words are the most important in this country. The breadth of protections offered by the amendment is in some ways the entire foundation for the democratic structure of the United States. But like any right, there have been challenges; some nefarious, others cultural. The current challenge comes from technology.

The rise of any new technology that expands our capabilities is often met with irrational exuberance. We almost always fall for the utopian visions put forward by the technology’s proponents, forgetting that it will be human beings – good, bad, and indifferent – who will mold the technology going forward. Thus, what evolves is both a blessing and a bane. The Internet is the 21st Century’s ultimate example of this phenomenon (so far).

What impact has the Internet had on the 1st Amendment, primarily free speech? My next guest on Did You Know That? is well versed on this question. Lyrissa Lidsky is the Dean of the University of Missouri School of Law and an authority on the intersection of free speech and the Internet. It’s a timely conversation that may change your thoughts about what you write/read on the World Wide Web.

To learn more about Lyrissa and her extensive work around the 1st Amendment, follow her via the links below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyrissa-lidsky-192815103/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LidskyLidsky

MizzouLaw on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MizzouLaw

Research on SSRN Author page: https://ssrn.com/author=247860

#1stamendment #freedomofspeech #dataprivacy #didyouknowthat #indulgeyourcuriosity #youtubechannel

Changing The Provider Experience with Guest Bryan Cush

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 14:50:00 GMT

Bryan Cush, Co-Founder of Tidal Health Group is on a mission to change the way consumers find providers.

Backed with a strong purpose and the courage to try, he and his team are tackling the large task at hand.

Listen along as Bryan shares a bit on his background, the company’s mission and some key valuable lessons he’s learned along the way so far.

You can Click Here to check out the podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Feature Friday with Ara Basmajian

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 12:02:00 GMT

“The beauty of mathematics only shows itself to more patient followers.” Maryam Mirzakhani

Episode 2021:7

Addition. Subtraction. Multiplication. Division. Algebra. Euclidian Geometry. Trigonometry. Calculus. For the vast majority of us, our formal study of math ends somewhere along this list. But this list doesn’t get us to space. Doesn’t get us mobile phones/tablets/devices. Doesn’t get us the Internet.

It’s not hyperbole to say mathematics can explain virtually the entire universe. That’s astounding if you really think about it. So does that mean mathematicians see the world differently than the rest of us? That’s one of the many questions I pose to Ara Basmajian, professor of hyperbolic geometry at Hunter College (part of the CUNY system), on this episode (2021:7) of Did You Know That?

If you want to dive into a whole new world and language, visit Ara’s links below:

CUNY: https://www.gc.cuny.edu/Page-Elements/Academics-Research-Centers-Initiatives/Doctoral-Programs/Mathematics/Faculty-Bios/Ara-Basmajian

Teaching: https://sites.google.com/view/basmajian/home/teaching

Research: https://sites.google.com/view/basmajian/home/research

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBSnPsGsH6U

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJWk_oAGlxo

Music: “Make Me Mad – instrumental Version” by Ofrin via Artlist

#mathematics #geometry #hyperbolicgeometry #universallanguage #didyouknowthat #indulgeyourcuriosity #youtubechannel

Feature Friday with Lexi Arnold

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 09:57:00 GMT

“The strongest people are those who win battles we know nothing about.” Unknown

Episode 2021:6

Host: Sean O’Rourke

Health can be a perplexing topic for all of us. Unless afflicted with a condition at birth or in early childhood, we typically grow up believing we control our minds and bodies. We jump when we want, we say what comes to mind, we sleep when we’re tired, we laugh when amused, we… well, you get the picture.

Lexi Arnold started life with that same belief but was disabused of the notion at a young age. Her struggles started early and caused mounting physical and mental challenges that affected her quality of life. Treating the physical issues was the easy part (and I use the term easy in a very loose sense, as you will find out during our conversation); the mental and emotional weight Lexi carried required more understanding, both for Lexi and her family.

In this episode of Did You Know That?, Lexi and I talk about the “shadow” she describes in the essay below. We discuss how she broached the subject with her parents, why she decided to be so open about her struggles, and what she’s doing to help others. This is one of the more inspiring episodes I’ve done thus far.

Lexi’s essay: https://lexismentalhealthmatters.jimdofree.com/2019/10/08/the-shadow

Learn more about Lexi at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexiarnold/

Instagram: @lexiarnold

Tenacious Tuesday with Rob Pecha

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 09:39:00 GMT

Check out the latest episode of the Try & Stop Me Podcast with host, Colleen Blum .

Lessons In The Redirection

Rob Pecha dreamed about fighting for his country but after 2 years of training he was told he could no longer continue.

Listen along as he sits down to tell us all about the lessons he was able to take from those day and turn them into motivation still to this day in his life and career.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lessons-in-the-redirection/id1525146944?i=1000508125920

Feature Friday with Brent Filbert

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 09:51:00 GMT

Host: Sean C O’Rourke

Guest: Brent Filbert

“We have to make sure the Hell the veterans come home from is not the Hell they come back to.” Marcus Luttrell

Episode 2021:5

The quote above carries many connotations, but for the purposes of this episode of Did You Know That?, we’re focusing on the relationship between veterans and the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). This is not a hit piece on the VA, but an exploration of how bureaucracy, politics, money, and other factors force many veterans into a pitch battle with the very government they served.

Brent Filbert is the clinical director and a supervising attorney at The Veterans Clinic at the University of Missouri School of Law . This group of dedicated attorneys and law students take up the fight – free of charge – for veterans who aren’t receiving the benefits they earned for their service. It’s a disheartening conversation in some respects and inspiring in many others.

Check out the work of The Veterans Clinic by following the links below:

https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-missouri-columbia-school-of-law/

NOTE: This episode comes at a special time as we honor my late father-in-law, Maj. Gen. Roger E. Combs , with the #PancakesForRoger campaign on various social media platforms. To check out the story behind the endeavor, Click Here !

Music: “Continent” by ANBR via Artlist

Pancakes For Roger! – The Backstory

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 09:52:00 GMT

February 1st kicks off Combs & Company’s annual campaign to support the University of Missouri School of Law Veterans Clinic , which helps veterans and their families navigate the VA claims process and secure disability benefits when they are faced with obstacles along the way. Combs & Company will make a donation to the Veterans Clinic for every pancake-loving picture you post on social media and use the hashtag #PancakesForRoger .

Many have asked how this campaign began. It began with a what seemed to be a simple request by my father for some pancakes.

My dad, Major General Roger E. Combs , served our great country for more than 39 years in three branches of the military (Marines, Army, and Air Force). When he was coming to the end of his life, I was fortunate enough to return home to King City, MO from my NYC home to be present and help care for him. Each morning we had a pretty specific routine as the early risers of the family. I would go to the gym at 5am, return home around 6am to get ready for the day, and then help him have breakfast and get him prepped for his day. One morning, as I came downstairs, he was setting the kitchen table for himself and I looked at him rather quizzically and asked what he was doing. He looked at me and said, “I want pancakes for breakfast.” I smiled at him as my heart broke inside.

Such a simple request was by this time impossible for my dad. Ten years prior, my father was diagnosed with Agent Orange-related throat cancer, from exposure during his service as a combat helicopter pilot in Vietnam. He’d beaten that cancer and enjoyed a relatively good ten years, but he relapsed twice, and his final treatments required him to have a feeding tube. He was unable to eat solid foods – and my dad loved food – but he never complained. He knew the journey he was on. So his desire for pancakes became a rallying point for me and #PancakesForRoger became my way to honor his greatness. I share this story as often as I can to help remind myself and others to enjoy the simple things in life, because you never know when they could be taken away.

So every February, to show support to many veterans who will come to be in my father’s shoes, I issue a challenge for the month to have some “Pancakes for Roger.” For each picture you post on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter, and use the hashtag #PancakesForRoger , Combs & Company will make a donation in Maj. Gen. Combs’ name to the Veterans Clinic at the University of Missouri School of Law to help further their mission to support our veterans and their families.

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If you are looking to support the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic in a deeper way, feel free to CLICK HERE to make a donation!

Tenacious Tuesday with Petia Abdur-Razzaaq

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 11:09:00 GMT

Influencing The Brands with Guest Petia Abdur-Razzaaq

Host: Colleen Blum

How many times have we’ve seen big brands just miss the mark?

Petia Abdur-Razzaaq, Founder of the Stylista Group is a top marketing strategist and tackling just that. She has teamed up with powerful females to flip the script on this problem. Listen how she shares her journey which has lead her to co-creating “Mosaic Mommies”.

Mosaic Mommies is a community of multi-ethnic moms and micro-influencers who share information about their favorite everyday products and services.

Their mission is to become the one-stop destination for mom influencers of all cultural backgrounds to connect, learn and nurture their unique needs.

Influencing the brands by branding through influencers.

Check Petia out at:

LinkedIn or at The Stylista Group

Don’t have time to watch and want to listen on your way to work? Click Here to list at Apple Podcasts!

Motivation Monday with Ellen Williams

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 13:31:00 GMT

“Information is the oil of the 21st century, and analytics is the combustion engine.” Peter Sondergaard

If you’re reading this, stop for 60 seconds and think about the data you generate on a daily basis. (No rush, I’ll wait.) Now put that data into a number format, like 10GB or 100GB. Want to know a secret? You’ve probably underestimated your daily data footprint by a factor of 10 to 100.

In today’s hyper-digital world, it’s nearly impossible note to generate tremendous amounts of data. That data carries value for businesses, if they can understand and optimize what they have. That’s the problem though; most companies are not doing a good job leveraging all that information to make a better product/service, so they’re wasting a valuable resource.

Ellen Williams doesn’t like wasting data. She knows the value contained in those bits and bytes, and she knows how to extract that value. (You don’t get the moniker, The Data Chick, for nothing.) On episode 2021:3 of Did You Know That?, Ellen and I talk about data, what companies can do with it, and why they do anything with it (most of the time). The conversation is a good reminder that the service/product you produce isn’t the only thing valuable about your business.

Big sure to stay current with Ellen by visiting her at:

Company Website: https://www.orion-gs.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenwilliamsny/

Twitter: @Ellen_NY_B2B

Music: “Night Search” by Russo via Artlist

Feature Friday with Stephanie Rodin

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 12:01:00 GMT

Check out the latest episode of “Did You Know That?” with host Sean O’Rourke

“In 10 years the electronic medical record will be the minor player, in terms of where a person’s health history lives.” Leslie Saxon

For better or worse, your health information is moving or has already moved into a digital format. Best known as electronic medical records (EMR’s), these digital footprints can be accessed by doctors, nurses, dentists, caregivers, employers; basically any entity that requires even a small bit about your medical condition. Like all things digital, there are regulations that look to protect that information from being stolen or misused.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has been around since the mid-1990’s, but in the last six to seven years, it has roared into the consciousness of all who hold EMR’s due to the increased threat to these records by hackers. Understanding the obligations under HIPAA is where my next guest on Did You Know That? comes into play.

Stephanie Rodin is an attorney specializing in the medical/healthcare world, and you can’t play in this sandbox without understanding HIPAA. What makes our conversation well worth your time is her knowledge of how HIPAA is starting to impact even businesses that don’t have anything to do with medicine. It’s a tricky topic.

To learn more about Stephanie and her practice, visit:

Website: http://www.rodinlegal.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanierodin/

Twitter: @Rodinlegal

Music: “Ghost” by Sunny Fruit via Artlist

#hipaa #healthcare #electronicmedicalrecords #didyouknowthat #indulgeyourcuriosity #youtubechannel

You Don’t Need Attention, You Need HYPE with guest Michael Shein

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 10:06:00 GMT

Try & Stop Me Podcast with Host: Colleen Blum

Cult Leaders, Mischief Maker and Boundary Breakers– what do they all have in common whether we like to admit it or not? They understand what attracts like minded individuals and tap into those strengths to get HYPE from humans.

Michael Schein has been studying individuals for years gathering some interesting facts. As he says, “never in history have people been so susceptible to propaganda and persuasion as they are now. Hype truly runs our world.”

Now what if we could tap into the hype and use the strategies for good in the world and impactful business success? Well he has done just that, Mike is going to share with us his journey, which lead him to the creation of his new book “The Hype Handbook: 12 Indispensable Success Secrets From the World’s Greatest Propagandists, Self-Promoters, Cult Leaders, Mischief Makers, and Boundary Breakers”.

Buckle up for a truly interesting conversation.

You can grab The Hype Handbook on Amazon!

CLICK HERE to listen to the Podcast, or watch it below!

Need-to-knows about the Second PPP Loan Program by Tricia M. Taitt

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 16:31:00 GMT

Author: Tricia M. Taitt

Congress just passed a new COVID-19 “survival” stimulus package . Changes include the reopening of the $10,000 EIDL grant program and updates to the PPP loan program.

As a reminder, those eligible for the PPP include :

New borrowers
Businesses that exhausted their first PPP loans
with less than 300 employees and;
that suffered a 25% or more reduction in gross revenue in one quarter in 2020 versus the same quarter in 2019

The second draw PPP loan program works similarly to the first round. Newly added policies include:

The max loan amount for most businesses at 2.5x the average monthly payroll cost for 2019 or over a trailing 12-month period
The max loan amount for hospitality and food-service businesses at 3.5 x that average monthly payroll costs for 2019 over the past 12 months
The list of expenses that qualify for loan forgiveness has expanded to include: operational expenses, supplier costs, PPE and worker protection costs and eligible payroll costs, including group insurance payments

The bottom line:

Move fast . Get your documents and calculations ready for when lenders make applications available.
Stay informed. But take some things with a grain of salt. There is a lot of false information out there. Rely on experts and your lender for updates.
Keep an eye out. As of now expenses paid with PPP loan funds are tax-deductible and the PPP monies are nontaxable income. The IRS may push back against that.

Click here to get some guidance on loan forgiveness for the 1st round borrowers!

_____________________________________

About Tricia & The Art of Money Matters:

The Art of Money Matters is led by its President and Chief Financial Officer, Tricia Taitt, who has a strong track record of managing and improving the financial operations of growth-oriented, small to mid sized companies in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Ms. Taitt is adept at helping senior leaders decode the numbers so that they can better understand their business and make strategic decisions more confidently.

Feature Friday with Kimberly Chu

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 11:31:00 GMT

Host: Sean C O’Rourke

“I’ve learned a lot from mentors who were instrumental in shaping me, and I want to share what I’ve learned.” Herbie Hancock

Quick personal story – when I was asked to be a mentor for the program we discuss in this episode, my first thought was: “Am I even qualified to be a mentor?” After talking to my mentee for about 15 minutes, I knew this was going to be a great gig. Not due to any superior knowledge on my part, but because the student was just looking for help and I was willing to do so.

Good mentors are guides through unknown landscapes. They don’t always show us the way, but they can teach us how to find our path and navigate it successfully (or with minimal backtracking). But how do you find a good mentor? Well my next guest on Did You Know That? has some ideas.

Dr. Kimberly Chu is the Director of the Executives on Campus (EOC) program at Baruch College (NY, NY). The program is designed to match undergrad and graduate students with mentors, who ideally work or have worked in the profession the student is pursuing. Kimberly and her team have built a pioneering program and we talk about why it should be a model for institutions across the country.

You can learn more about Kimberly and EOC by visiting the links below.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chukimberly/

Website: https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/eoc/

Music: “A Big Adventure” by FASSounds via Artlist

#mentors #mentoring #barchcollege #payitforward #didyouknowthat #indulgeyourcuriosity #youtubechannel

Feature Friday with Jeremy Epstein

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 12:28:00 GMT

Title: Can Blockchain Change the World?

Copy:

“The blockchain symbolizes a shift in power from the centers to the edges of the networks.” William Mougayar

There are few things as dubious as definitive proclamations. History is littered with such utterances by those known and obscure. Most were just contributors to the Earth’s CO2 levels.

This brings us to blockchain. Blockchain is a burgeoning technology sector that shows a lot of promise to change a wide breadth of industries. But for certain instances, blockchain remains more promise than actual change.

So why all the hype? Well Jeremy Epstein has some answers on episode 2020.14 of Did You Know That? Jeremy and I try to explain blockchain in terms that will resonate with most viewers, and we look at the potential uses of such technology. There is some geek-speak sprinkled throughout, but if you’re looking for insight into a new technology landscape, this is a chat you’ll get into.

And if you want to stay informed, be sure to check out Jeremy’s various social media profiles.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jer979
Instagram: @jer979
Twitter: @jer979

Music: “Runnin’ In Circles – Instrumental” by Ziv Moran via Artlist

Feature Friday with Kat Thomas

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 12:51:00 GMT

“I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.” Maya Angelou

Took me a long time to write this video description. Went through numerous drafts talking about the courage of sexual violence survivors, the evil of the perpetrators, and many other aspects of this topic. None of them felt right, so I thought it best to let the video speak for itself.

Kat Thomas is an attorney and advocate for survivors of sexual violence. Her job is to work in the darkest recesses of humanity, and her gift is that you would never know it if you simply talked to her. That takes a special strength, that comes through loud and clear on this episode.

To learn more about Kat and her practice, visit her firm’s website.

Website: https://tlcpc.law/

Music: “Normalize” by Stanley Gurvich via Artlist

Feature Friday with Traci Carnes

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 13:25:00 GMT

Host: Sean O’Rourke

Guest: Traci Carnes

Title: Are Your Confident In Your Cybersecurity?

Posting:

“The hacker didn’t succeed through sophistication. Rather he poked at obvious places, trying to enter through unlocked doors. Persistence, not wizardry, let him through.” Clifford Stoll, “The Cuckoo’s Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage”

“The Cuckoo’s Egg” was published in 1989; I first read it in 1995. You know what’s amazing/annoying/frustrating/unsurprising? Not much has changed in the intervening 30+ years when it comes to hacking. Sure, the systems and tools have gotten more sophisticated, but persistence and unlocked doors remain the key hallmarks of most hacks.

Cybersecurity, especially for small- and mid-sized businesses, remains a hazy priority that seems to fall down the to-do list every time a company runs out of coffee or snacks. That’s just playing with gasoline and matches, and my next guest on Did You Know That? knows this firsthand. Traci Carnes has worn many a technology hat in her career, so she’s seen cybersecurity from all sides. Her thoughts and processes should inspire businesses to take a more proactive approach to minimizing the damage from a cyber event. Remember, it’s not if but when you’ll experience one.

Want to learn more about Traci and her extensive background? Check out her LinkedIn profile.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracicarnes/

Music: “Broken Radios” by Stanley Gurvich via Artlist

Feature Friday with Diane D. Reynolds

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 16:22:00 GMT

Is Your Business Subject to Cyber Laws?

Host: Sean C O’Rourke

Guest: Diane D. Reynolds

“People ask me all the time, ‘What keeps you up at night?’ And I say, ‘Spicy Mexican food, weapons of mass destruction, and cyberattacks.’” Dutch Ruppersberger

If you’re reading this (hopefully as you’re watching the episode), then your life and data have been impacted by multiple cyber events in the last decade or so. Welcome to the reality of technology in the 21 ^st Century.

While it took a while, politicians recognized their voting base was under attack and decided to act in the way they knew best – passing regulations. The European Union, Brazil, and China all have extensive cyber regulations with provisions that extend beyond their geographic borders. The United States has some national laws specific to particular industries, but most cyber rules are handed at the state level. It’s a hodgepodge that has business swimming in alphabet soup.

That’s why the next guest on Did You Know That? is such an in-demand resource. Diane D. Reynolds has been dealing with cyber regulations, on a global scale, for a good portion of her career. She now guides businesses through the maze of regulations and compliance, and inevitably, response to a cyber incident. Our chat focuses on why all businesses are now subject to some sort of regulation and how to proceed from there.

#cyberregulations #cyberliability #dataprivacy #datasecurity #didyouknowthat #indulgeyourcuriosity #youtubechannel #gdpr #shield #ccpa #cpra

Feature Friday with Jack Sullivan

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 10:51:00 GMT

“…but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Benjamin Franklin

Was there any other quote appropriate enough to start this conversation? Nope.

The next topic of conversation on Did You Know That? was the bane of my existence for 12+ years (when I was president of my old IT firm). And while the term sales tax may immediately turn you off, you do so at your own risk.

What do you know about sales taxes, aside from the fact that paying them is annoying and expensive? Well, if you own or manage any type of business, then you should be a pseudo-expert on the topic. Most, not all, states and localities rely heavily on sales taxes to generate revenue. (That’s even more true in the time of COVID-19.) This heavy reliance means states do not play around when it comes to collecting what they’re owed or imposing new sales taxes when “necessary.”

Jack Sullivan is an expert in all things tax, especially sales tax, which makes him the perfect guest for this episode. (Full disclosure: Jack still is the tax attorney for my old IT firm, Syzygy 3.) He’s argued cases across the country for a range of companies; he’s devised sales tax strategies for entities selling into multiple states; and he’s investigated the taxability of products/services from the mundane to the exotic. He also has a style all his own, as you will learn.

Jack and I discuss a lot during this episode, but all of it is relevant to businesses in some form or another. Be sure to take notes and if you want to learn more about Jack, his various links are below.

Website: https://thesullivanlaw.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-sullivan-1788b01/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb9o8tVG19Muf1HMOT5kURw

Music: “Mayhem” by Ian Post via Artlist

#didyouknowthat, #salestax, #sullivanlaw, #indulgeyourcuriosity, #taxes, #statefinances, #youtubechannel

Tenacious Tuesday with Deb Koenigsberger from Hearts of Gold!

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 16:16:00 GMT

Host: Colleen Blum

Guest: Deb Koenigsberger

The Golden Heart Tackling Homelessness in NYC

Have you ever donated to an organization because you REALLY believed in the mission behind what/ who they were helping? But have you actually ever wondered WHO was the person that started it?

Who helped mold them? What happened in their life to make them to become this type of giving, selfless, incredible human? Where did it all start?

If you love a great story where there are just real feel good moments and you like to learn the behind the scenes of the special people who are making this world a better place to live, then keep listening, because today is just about that.

Today we sit down with my friend Deb Koenigsberger who is the Founder & CEO of, Hearts of Gold. This is a life changing organization all about helping homeless mothers & Children in NYC. Their mission is to help the moms gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence that they need to be able to transition out of the shelter system and become fully independent and productive members of society.

Check out behind the scenes photos on the @tryandstopmepodcast Instagram page

Guest: Deb Koensigberger

Founder & CEO of Hearts of Gold

Music: No Matter How Hard We Try – Ben Goldstein

Feeling – Aaron Kellim

Podcast is Available on All Podcast Listening Platforms.

“The Golden Heart Tackling Homelessness in NYC – Try And Stop Me Podcast .

CLICK HERE to listen to the full Podcast!

Feature Friday – Ramon Ray

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 15:09:00 GMT

Host: Sean C O’Rourke

Guest: Ramon Ray

“When things do not go your way, remember that every challenge — every adversity — contains within it the seeds of opportunity and growth.” Roy T. Bennett

If you like understatement, then saying 2020 has been (or was, depending on when you’re reading this) a challenging year should make the top of your list. But among all that has gone wrong, that’s disrupted the norm, or been thrown into the unknown lies opportunity to come out the other end better, stronger, faster. (Yes, that’s a callout to one of my all-time favorite shows.)

In the latest edition of Did You Know That?, the engaging Ramon Ray talks about how businesses – of all sizes – can identify and take advantage of even the slimmest of opportunity. There are risks; it’s not for the faint of heart; but there are rewards to be had by you, your employees, and your customers/clients if you take a calculated leap. This is not about running after anything that catches your eye; this about smartly identifying where your business can fill a new need and moving with purpose in that direction.

If this is your first experience listening to Ramon, then get your pen and paper or keyboard ready, because he’s going to throw a lot of information out there and you’ll want to digest it afterward (or give this multiple watches; your choice).

You can also check out Ramon’s various works using the links or handles below:

Instagram: @ramonraysmarthustle

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramonraysmallbiz/

Check out Ramon’s website Smart Hustle or his speaking website HERE !

Music: “J.D. Scavenger” by Randy Sharp via Artlist

Feature Friday – Did You Know That?

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 11:03:00 GMT

Host: Sean C O’Rourke

Guest: Cory Allison

“Money, it’s a gas. Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash” Pink Floyd

You have a killer idea. It appeals to a broad market. And your strategy to bring it to life is rock solid. All you need is a few more dollars than you have now to make it a reality. What path should you choose? Bootstrap? Friends and family? Angel? Venture capital? Family office? Maybe even private equity?

How you fund a business may be just as important as what you’re selling. Going it alone leaves all the decisions in your hands, but you’re gambling all your resources. Taking money from others limits your own exposure, but now you have potential “partners” who may weigh in on crucial decisions or not agree with the ones you make.

Cory Allison is an experienced entrepreneur, especially in the startup world. She’s also a partner in a fund that focuses on female-led businesses. So she knows the funding game from both sides of the table. Her insights on the topic may help guide you on your quest to launch the next unicorn.

You can discover much more about Cory at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-allison-30a73025/

KelCor: https://www.kelcortape.com/

The JumpFund: https://www.thejumpfund.com/about

Music: “Having a Good Day – Instrumental” by Benj Heard via Artlist

Tenacious Tuesday – Newest Episode of the Try and Stop Me Podcast!

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 13:54:00 GMT

Host: Colleen Blum

Guest: Andy Neary

Mindset Lessons Learned On The Mound

Today, I am super pumped to bring you a fun, energetic, kickass business role model & overall JUST a good human Andy Neary.

Andy’s a former Professional Baseball Player. He’s now a Business Coach, Keynote Speaker & Founder of “the Complete Game”, coaching program.

Andy’s mission is to help business professionals build the mindset, habits, and rituals as he says “off the field” that lead to all-star performance on it. I’m obsessed with what he has going on today because it fits right into something I think we have all dealt with in our life at some point – a defeating mindset. Listen along as he teaches us how to flip the script into developing what he now calls #majorleaguemindset.

Watch a preview of the episode here!

Check out the full episode below!

Check him out at www.andyneary.com

Check out his podcast Bullpen Sessions

Feature Friday – Did You Know That?

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 12:24:00 GMT

We all pretty much know the names and stories of the entrepreneurs who made it big (just check the list of the world’s richest people). But do you know the story of the person who started that dry cleaner’s down the block? How about your favorite non-chain coffee shop? That pub you frequent way too often? The graphic designer for the at-home workout app you’ve been frequenting?

If you think about it, entrepreneurship has been around since that first multi-cellular organism ventured off on its own to find a better source of food. Not much has changed in the intervening few billion years. (OK, maybe a few things.) Being an entrepreneur is still a risky, fulfilling, exhausting, invigorating, difficult, inspiring way of life, and my next guest on Did You Know That? has experienced it more than most.

Adrian Miller has been a successful entrepreneur – many times over – for 30+ years. She’s juggled multiple businesses for more than a decade now, all while being a mom, wife, world traveler, and fount of knowledge. If you’re thinking of taking the leap, or are struggling to keep your fire going, then this is the episode you don’t want to miss.

To learn more about Adrian’s fascinating history, check out her LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amillersalestraining/ .

Music: “DuDa” by Ian Post via Artlist

Feature Friday – Did You Know That?

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 11:12:00 GMT

Host: Sean C O’Rourke

Guest: Paul Zambrotta

“There is no such thing as ‘away’. When we throw anything away it must go somewhere.” Annie Leonard

I’m not a terribly nostalgic person, but have to admit, this episode took me back to show and tell in grammar school.

Have you ever heard the term wish-cycling? No, not the practice of wishing for the same thing each time you blow out birthday candles. This is the practice of throwing an item into a recycling bin in the hopes it can be recycled. While the intention may be good, in practice, this act of hope has real negative consequences – it can turn good recyclables into trash.

My next guest on Did You Know That? is Paul Zambrotta, Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Hi-Tech Resource Recovery, Inc. & Scholes Street Recycling Corp., and Director of Safety at Mr. T Carting. Paul’s grandfather, Tom Toscano (aka, Pop), started Mr. T Carting with one truck in 1947 and the family of companies has grown with the city to better address waste and recycling efforts.

The chat with Paul is broken into two segments. First, we discuss the overall status of the recycling business and market, with an emphasis on where we, the consumers, are falling short on proper recycling. The real fun begins with part two, where Paul and I go through many common household items to determine what can go into the recycling containers and what should hit the trash. I think you may be surprised by some of his answers.

To learn more about Paul and his work, check out his LinkedIn profile, CLICK HERE

To learn more about plastic recycling, visit Waste4Change by CLICKING HERE

Music: “Urban Drummers” by Mike Kirin via. Artlist

Rockstars Rocking Podcast

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 18:20:00 GMT

Absolutely thrilled to be featured this week on Eric Silverman ‘s Rockstars Rocking podcast!

Thank you so much Eric, for giving me a platform to share about my journey and my passion for the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic at the University of Missouri!

Click below to watch the episode!

Want to see more episodes, make sure you CLICK HERE to subscribe!

Episode 6 – Try and Stop Me Podcast by Colleen Blum with Guest Mike Veny

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 12:59:00 GMT

Episode 6 Mental Health Is An Asset, So Let’s Talk About It

Host: Colleen Blum

Guest: Mike Veny

Mental Health is something society still struggles to talk about or address, the one good thing about COVID is that problem seems to be slowly changing.

Mike Veny is one of the Top Mental Health Speakers in the US talking about just that. Listen as he shares his story through his mental own health journey, how is mother helped him find an outlet and how he is using his mental health as an asset to help change lives all across the country.

Curious for a preview of the episode? Take a listen below!

To be able to listen or download the full episode, click below!

Guest Contact Information:

Mike Veny: LinkedIn

Website: https://www.mikeveny.com/

Author of: Transforming Stigma: How to Become a Mental Wellness Superhero

Podcast: MXV Self Employed Momentum

Follow us on the @tryandstopmepodcast Instagram page

Feature Friday – Did You Know That?

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 11:57:00 GMT

Host: Sean C O’Rourke

“Politics is not a game. It is an earnest business.” Winston Churchill

Politics. Politician. Want to cause a visceral reaction? Just drop these words into any conversation and watch the fireworks blaze. It begs the question – why would anyone want to get into this business?

Well, for those who do, there’s a gauntlet you have to run just to get in front of your welcoming electorate. The cynic looks at these hurdles as a way for incumbents to stay in power; the optimist looks at the process as a way of pre-validating a candidate. Either way, it’s no simple matter to find your way onto a ballot and then finance a campaign.

My next guest on Did You Know That? is Rachel Harding, an election/campaign finance law attorney who specializes in New York state. Rachel knows the ins and outs, tricks and tricksters, and the obstacles a potential candidate must navigate to get on and remain on a New York ballot. She also knows how much money a candidate can accept and from whom and how often. Essentially, if you want to run for office in New York, call Rachel first.

In an election year unlike any in recent history, who better than Rachel to discuss how ballots are “made” in New York?

To learn more about Rachel, check out her LinkedIn profile HERE

Be sure to do your civic duty and vote, even if it’s for none of the above.

Music: Big City Lights by Ikoliks via Artlist

Feature Friday – Did You Know That?

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 13:44:00 GMT

Host: Sean C O’Rourke

“It’s about focusing on the fight and not the fright.” Robin Roberts

In 2019, two scientists presented evidence of a malignant tumor in a turtle bone that was 240 million years old. In 2016, a published paper identified cancer in a hominid – one of our ancestors – toe bone from 1.7 million years ago. An ancient Egyptian medical text, dating back at least 3,600 years, details cancer and removal procedures for breast tumors.

So what’s this have to do with anything? Well, first, it helps explain why cancer remains such an intractable disease, even with $200 billion spent in the last 50 years (in the U.S. alone). Second, it provides context as to why I think my next guest is such an inspiring badass.

Not to give too much away, but what should have been one of the happiest days of Morgan Mitchell’s life was overshadowed by a lump she found in her breast. A couple weeks later, at 28, Morgan was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.

If this interview was about Morgan’s work, or our previous exploits on the football field, or a hike she just finished, you’d never know she was being treated for anything other than being too positive. It’s this strength of character I wanted to bring out during our conversation, in the hopes it might inspire others, and kick off Breast Cancer Awareness month on a positive message.

Morgan’s professional side is highlighted HERE

If you’d like to learn more about the organizations Morgan mentions, visit:

5 Under Forty: https://5under40.org/

American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/

Music “Early Morning” by Borrtx via Artlist

Per Angusta Ad Augusta translates to “Through difficulties to honors.”

Episode 5 – Try and Stop Me Podcast by Colleen Blum

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 11:50:00 GMT

The Life Changing Question: Gratitude & Pasta with Chris Schembra

Host: Colleen M Blum

Have you ever sat back and took a moment to think about all of the experiences you have really been through? Has anyone ever had a serious life altering impact in making who you are today – whether they were good or bad? Have you ever taken the time to be grateful for those moments which lead you to become the person you are today?

Todays episode is ALL ABOUT THAT. Gratitude.

Our next guest is Chris Schembra. Chris is the Founder of the 7:47 Club. He is the Best Selling Author of Gratitude & Pasta: The Secret Sauce For Human Connection. USA Today named him the “Gratitude Guru”.

Chris has gone through his fair share of try and stop me moments, battling depression, suicide, rehab & even jail. But once he was able to see life, experience life – his world shifted. Listen along as he shares his story about how Gratitude and Pasta forever changed his world.

Guest: Find him on LinkedIn Chris Schembra or at www.747club.org

Contact to attend a dinner: David@747club.org

Podcast Instagram: @tryandstopmepodcast

CLICK HERE to see the full episode!

What’s the good news, ladies? Fall, y’all!

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 12:26:00 GMT

Original Post: BenefitsPro Broker Innovation Lab

Susan L. Combs | September 21, 2020 at 07:47 AM

I cannot believe that 4 ^th Quarter is days away! That means that open enrollment is on the horizon and oof … how it’s going to be different this year? Hope you all have your virtual toolkit ready to go; I know we have been busy planning and gearing up for this in our office to make the process as easy and smooth as possible. But we’re all in insurance, right? So we look at worst case scenario. If you’re like me, you lay awake in bed thinking “What’s the worst than can happen?” And then you lay awake longer. Gah! Good luck, ladies. Feel free to share the best idea or tool you are using; I’m sure many would love to hear about them.

We had such a blast at the virtual BenefitsPRO Broker Expo this year and got to meet some incredible women that way! I’m really excited to introduces you to these fine women this month who are keeping it real in the world of COVID, home schooling and just being rockstars in our industry. Please welcome Sarah, Robin and Sarah to the fold!

Sarah Wilson, Compass Benefit Advisors

“Interesting? Challenging? Uncertain? I’m not quite sure how to describe the last 12 months. For me, it has involved creating a new role for myself within a new firm while learning to be a teacher overnight to my 8 and 9 year olds. Juggling and adapting have become my forte.

One thing I’ve learned is we’re not meant to do this thing called life alone and that it’s OK, even good, to put ourselves out there and lean on others. Connecting has become my mission, even if only by Zoom. I’ve pushed myself to make connections with mom friends and other female colleagues a priority, carving out time to share and encourage each another. In an effort to connect with others, I’ve started a think tank for clients and prospective clients to discuss their good, bad, and ugly and to encourage one another when it comes to topics like COVID, compliance, leadership and employee morale. It’s served as a great sounding board for human resource leaders.

When you make life a party, not a competition, and give yourself and others an opportunity to connect, it allows everyone to thrive together. Here’s to ducking, diving and keeping our heads above water!”

Robin Wahby, CLU, Wahby Financial Group, LLC

“I am proud to say I recently conquered a goal that had always eluded me. This goal was to move families from managing money and financial advice to working towards the achievement of life’s purpose and leaving a legacy. During the pandemic, I have been helping clients feel less anxious and more in control of their finances but am also now beginning to talk about the people and organizations that are important to them. And talk they did!

Our client families are acting now to preserve their values and goals for future generations. As a result, estate and charitable planning in my firm has increased significantly. We have helped more clients than ever before design settlement letters and ethical wills. An ethical will is a love letter to your family and bequeaths values. It can be as simple as a handwritten letter or a selfie video message.”

Sarah Gottheim, Savoy Associates

“Last month marked my 13-year anniversary in the dynamic health insurance industry. This year has been the most challenging, as the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the nation. Adapting to a new virtual world, companies are expected to conform to an online-driven work environment, including benefits administration. To accomplish this, business owners are relying on trusted brokers.

Working at a leading general agency, it is my job to work hand in hand with my broker partners to provide top-notch benefits consulting for the most sought-after benefits. I have consulted with hundreds of clients and brokers at companies of all sizes and industries to help them keep up to speed on benefits trends and legislative changes.

Relationships are key, and pairing with a strong team with deep knowledge and expertise drives new levels of success. I’m excited for the opportunities to work with dedicated partners to support business growth and boost client satisfaction.”

Know of a rockstar woman in our industry who’s doing things better than the rest? If so, I’d love to connect! You can just shoot me over an email with their information or feel free to make a virtual introduction to me at scombs@combsandco.com Stay safe, sane and mask up, my friends.

Episode 1: Did you Know That?

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:03:00 GMT

Host: Sean O’Rourke

Guest: Stavros Michailidis

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” Ernest Hemingway

I’ve always loved this quote. To me, it speaks volumes about how difficult it is to be “creative.” I actually referenced this quote during my very first conversation with Stavros Michailidis, my guest on this edition of Did You Know That? While my point was one of doubt that creativity could be learned, you’ll discover during this discussion that it was more my definition of creativity was too limited. Humans demonstrate creativity everyday – usually without all the blood – we just have a tendency to not recognize it, and thus, not apply it to future endeavors.

Music: “Naked Memories” by Assaf Ayalon via Artlist

About Stavros Michailidis:

Stavros has been facilitating KI events since 2009 and today he focuses on leading KI’s operations. He brings to KI his experience as an entrepreneur, having co-founded a design build firm, a disaster recovery not-for-profit and an eco-friendly dry cleaning business. Despite his business background, Stavros knew Science had captured his heart when he found himself preferring to read Science News over Harvard Business Review while stuck at airports between flights.

To learn more about his company, Knowinnovation, CLICK HERE

#didyouknowthat #youtube #creativity

Episode 4 – Try and Stop Me Podcast by Colleen Blum

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 20:46:00 GMT

Host: Colleen M Blum

Guest: Sebastian Rusk

Have You Ever Wanted To Start A Podcast?! All Of The Who/What/Why I Wish I Knew Before Starting A Podcast! check out what the Expert himself, Sebastian Rusk has to say about it!

Have you ever dreamed about starting YOUR OWN podcast but you have used ANY & EVERY excuse under the sun to just push it to the “one day” plan?? Well then THIS EPISODE is all for YOU!!

Sebastian Rusk is the go to man for all of the how to when creating a podcast from idea to inception. Sebastian is the Founder of the Podcast Launch Lab, he is also a kick ass Social Media Speaker, Author and Digital Story Teller. – guys if I knew Sebastian before I started this all I could have saved a good 3 weeks of my life from the countless YouTube clips I watched. Listen along to today conversation about all the questions I had when debating whether to start this show or not.

BTW: Secret for you! For 2 years I pushed down this idea of actually getting my show started because I just didn’t even know where to start. It’s time to put your fears aside & just make the jump! You can do this, I believe in YOU!

Guest Instagram: @podcastlaunchguy

Host: @tryandstopmepodcast

Episode 3 – Try and Stop Me Podcast by Colleen Blum

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 21:10:00 GMT

By Colleen Blum

Standing OUT Against the Instabody “Perfect” World – What IS That?! With Jess Mazzucco CEO of The Glute Recruit

What are we teaching our girls they need to be through social media? Do I need to take butt selfies to grow my fitness business? CEO of The Glute Recruit – Voted Best Personal Trainer in Westchester answers all. Jess tells her story about her journey through the corporate fitness world which lead her to create her own company. Jess touches on the unrealistic expectations that social media has and how she is trying to be the change in her industry by getting away from those never changing butt selfies and teaching our little ones to be strong ¬t focus on skinny.

Guest: @thegluterecuit

Host: @tryandstopme_podcast

Use Code: COLLEEN20 for 20% off your GluteRecruit resistance band!

https://www.thegluterecruit.com/shop

To listen to the full podcast, CLICK HERE

#MotivationMonday

Episode 2: Try and Stop Me Podcast by Colleen Blum with Guest Stephanie Virchaux

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 20:34:00 GMT

Podcast: Try and Stop Me

Host: Colleen Blum

Guest: Stephanie Virchaux, of SV Empowerment

On Episode 2, we sit down with my dear friend Stephanie Virchaux.

Stephanie is the Founder of SV Empowerment, she is a Motivational Speaker and an Energy Healer.

Stephanie had over a decade in the corporate world marketing for some of the top beauty brands in the industry. She was making well over 6 figures in the “opportunity of lifetime” position. Despite all of the perks, at the end of the day, it just wasn’t what her gut was telling her to do. Listen along as she shares her journey which lead her to her coaching business where she was able to use her own tools to help her through some extremely difficult times of her own.

Instagram: @tryandstopme_podcast

Guest Instagram: @stephanievirchaux

To listen to the full podcast, CLICK HERE or check it out on Spotify!

What’s the good news, ladies? August edition

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 19:53:00 GMT

Original Post: BenefitsPro Broker Innovation Lab

By Susan L Combs | August 14, 2020 at 06:58 AM

Guess what’s next week?! It’s BenefitsPRO Broker Expo time! This is one of my favorite conferences every year and this year we are doing the Fast & Furious Session from the main stage! So if you haven’t already registered, make sure you handle that ASAP ! Since it is virtual this year, if you are a broker or agent, you can get in on the fun for no charge and learn what the rest of us already know about this great show!

In July, we kicked off our Wonder Woman Mastermind group, which was the brainchild of this series. We had a wonderful first meeting, where we shared some excellent marketing ideas with each other. If you are looking to be inspired by more women in our industry, please meet Bobbie and Deidre. Both women are breaking down barriers for women in our industry with personal impact and mentorship.

Bobbie Shrivastav, Benekiva

“The past 12 months have been focused on growth, speaking and mentoring! Due to all of our recent exposure and hard work, Benekiva was invited to participate in Mass Challenge FinTech Accelerator. We were selected out of over 300 applications globally and are proud of this recognition! Our impact in the industry has also increased as we’ve grown the number of carriers we work with from three to nine over the past 12 months. Personally, I was invited to speak at over 25 events in the last year, on topics such as InsurTech, innovation, customer experience, digital transformation, Blockchain, startups, women in tech, and diversity and inclusion. I’ve meet so many dynamic people along the way. Lastly, we have been able to mentor many startups and logged over 250 hours to help the startup community nationally.”

Deidre Wright, Strategic Stories

“I constantly think about the legacy I want to leave. My goal is to diversify the C-Suite and change the image of what a leader “looks like.” While companies promote diversity and inclusion, data shows the existence of pay disparities and glass ceilings amongst employees. Last December, I took the leap to become a full-time entrepreneur, providing personal brand coaching to ambitious but undervalued diverse talent. Nothing could have prepared me for what was to come. The biggest surprise has been, that in the midst of a global pandemic, unstable economy, and racial unrest, my clients are winning. For example, Uche, a first-generation African American woman, just landed a new job making 20% more pay and with the dream title we planned together. Why am I celebrating this as a personal win? It debunks the myth that top-notch diverse talent doesn’t exist. So. I encourage us all to mentor, hire and promote diverse talent.”

Know a great rockstar woman in our industry who’s doing amazing things? If so, I’d love to connect! You can just shoot me over an email with their information or feel free to make a virtual introduction to me at scombs@combsandco.com . Stay safe and mask up my friends. Hope to see you August 18th-20th at the BenefitsPRO BrokerExpo!

Feature Friday: To Be an Effective Communicator, it’s Okay to Be Silent – Aimee B. Davis

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 11:42:00 GMT

Original Post: ABD Law Blog

When the COVID-19 lockdown began, I very quickly noticed the surge, and felt bombarded by, too many choices for online entertainment. Suddenly countless guided meditations, yoga classes, friends having Zoom cocktail hours, and virtual dance parties were available simply by clicking a link. But, in order to process entering into a “new normal,” my instinct sent me to a quieter, more introspective place.

For all things communication-related , I reflect on the words of my guru, Debra Forman, a certified executive coach and the founder of Pinstripe Coaching who, in her video blog entitled After It Rains, video 43: It’s OK to be Silent , reminds us:

“When you feel comfortable with your own silence, you will act as if you speak volumes.”

In April 2020 , I declared kindness is the new BLACK. I emphasized the importance of increasing kindness through our words, actions, and the omission of certain actions. By going to that quiet place to digest the deep sense of loss and grief we are all experiencing, I found the time and space to consider ways to communicate with kindness to my clients, family, friends, andothers on social media during these unprecedented times.

In the Age of Uncertainty, be aware that anxiety impacts the way we communicate with others.

I hear some people are a little extra snappy these days, but you didn’t hear it from me , since I’m isolated here on the 5th floor. But, now more than ever, when we feel extra vulnerable and scared, it’s important to try to be careful of what we say and to try to avoid judging others.

Debra also reminds us that we don’t always need to fill in the blanks. Too much of one thing can negate your message. Practice restraint. Let’s use the New York State PAUSE to take a metaphorical pause in communicating!

According to Debra: “Punctuate everything you discuss with appropriate silence and respectful pauses. This will enable your listener to truly take in your words, consider their meaning [because Words Do Matter ], and respond as appropriate.”

To communicate effectively and with kindness, “best practices” suggest that before speaking, we should consider the following:

Is it True?
Is it Kind?
Is it Necessary?
Is it Helpful?

Sometimes, the best thing to say is NOTHING!

_______________________________________________________________

Aimee B. Davis Law P.C. is committed to advising its clients and resolving issues relating to the legal and business matters that are important to them. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at (917) 617-2243 or email aimee@aimeebdavis.com.

Aimee B. Davis Aimee B. Davis Law P.C. 917-617-2243 122 Ashland Place Brooklyn, NY 11201 www.aimeebdavis.com aimee@aimeebdavis.com

College Prep in 2020: Covid GO Bag

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 20:08:00 GMT

College Prep: Covid GO Bag! If you have a child going to college, have them pack an emergency COVID-19 bag in case they test positive and have to quarantine.

Episode 1: Try and Stop Me Podcast by Colleen Blum

Mon, 03 Aug 2020 21:51:00 GMT

Podcast: Try and Stop Me

Host: Colleen Blum

Guest: Tony Pec , Y Not You Media

Our guest Tony Pec is the go to man for social media and all things business.

Hear how he saw the potential in Instagram growth which led him to say “forget the college degree” and dove right into creating his own Forbes Accredited Marketing agency!

Take a listen the preview below!

To listen to the full podcast, CLICK HERE or check it out on Spotify!

Dynamic Identification

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 15:41:00 GMT

By: Sean C. O’Rourke , Cyber Liability Consultant, Combs & Company, LLC

How often do you think about the information contained on a state-issued identification document (such as a driver’s license)? How about your passport, which is internationally recognized? The data on your credit card’s magnetic strip? Pretty sure most people would answer never or infrequently to any or all of these questions, which is why there are folks like James (Jim) Mottola .

Jim spent 26 years at the Secret Service, thinking a lot about identification documents and the information contained – and not contained – on them. To law enforcement, identification is a vital part of the job. But with COVID-19, questions about identification data have taken on new forms and urgencies, beyond law enforcement and the ability to get on an airplane or drive a car. A great many of those questions revolve around health ID’s; documents that could confirm a person has the COVID-19 antibodies, or never tested positive for the virus, or received the proper immunizations before traveling to other parts of the world.

Would a health ID work, especially here in the United States? If so, how would it work and most importantly, how would you protect the data? “Dynamic Identification” is a conversation I recorded with Jim to discuss these questions and others. It’s a topic that touches on every citizen and business. If interested, just click on the video below.

Cyber Insurance 101

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 11:32:00 GMT

By: Mitchell R Ledven , Insurance Advisor, Combs & Company, LLC

The current landscape of the U.S. workforce is quite different than it was six months ago. In a world once consumed by daily human interaction, we now find ourselves spending most of our days sitting in front of a screen and talking behind a keyboard. Some may say that this is just a short-term solution to the problem at hand, while others say it will be the way of life moving forward. While we don’t know for certain which answer is correct, we can agree that one thing is for sure and that is every day you log into a computer, there is a risk that someone is out there trying to take advantage of you. That person could be your next door neighbor or a 12-year-old hacker sitting in their parent’s basement on the other side of the globe. The point of this blog isn’t to shake you out of your boots, but it is to inform you about a way to protect your business and its assets. Enter Cyber Liability Insurance, a coverage that helps protect data and operations of your business if you find yourself the victim of a cyber related attack. Here’s how it works:

Cyber Liability Insurance helps protect your business from losses resulting from online threats. These breaches can be suffered on a 1 ^st and/or 3 ^rd party basis. This is a responsive coverage to help soften the blow due to a cyber-attack.

What it Protects Against:

Username and password theft
Phishing emails
Ransomware/cyber extorsion
Defense costs, fines, and penalties
Business interruption after a cyber related incident
Breach response
Funds transfer fraud
Crisis management/PR
Website is hacked

In a Nutshell: If you store data or have systems connected to the internet, you are exposed to cyber threats.

Is it required?: No. However, all states have laws regarding breach notification. Some states have laws dictating cyber protocols. For example, NY has DFS rule 500 and the SHIELD Act, while California has the California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA).

Feature Friday: A Human Resource Leader’s Guide to Corporate Messaging on Racism – Mike Veny

Fri, 10 Jul 2020 15:11:00 GMT

Click Here for the original post on The SHRM Blog!

As a mental health speaker, much of my work is focused on supporting HR leaders around mental health initiatives. This usually involves addressing the mental health stigma. I’ve learned having uncomfortable and awkward conversations is the critical key to transforming this stigma.

We don’t usually like to have these types of conversations. But they help us reach a place of understanding.

The same is true for navigating racism.

We will only make real and lasting progress in this area when we focus on empathizing with people who have different perspectives than us. It’s important to understand that we’re never going to fully understand someone who is living in a different set of shoes. But we can do our best to have empathy so we can reach a place of connecting better. And ultimately be able to get more done together.

What you need to keep in mind as an HR leader

Many people of color are angry, sad and scared right now. Those are difficult emotions that make it hard to focus, communicate and respond to everyday situations. They often stem from not feeling listened to or feeling a lack of control over what’s happening in life.
Company words right now need to be more authentic than ever and backed up by action. Your initiative cannot be about meeting the status quo to avoid being a victim of the “cancel culture”.
Diversity and Inclusion training needs to be an ongoing, regular part of your work. This will ultimately lead to increased productivity and profitability. You may need to use this angle when talking with your C-level executives about your initiative.
Learn to ask the right questions and then listen. Here are some examples:

○   “What do you see happening that I don’t see?”
○   “How do you think you are perceived by the leaders in the company?”
○   “What do you feel we need to be doing that we’re not doing?”
○   Or simply say, “Help me understand.”

Creating effective messaging

Right now, people want to hear what your company stands for. Let them know that you don’t support racism. Share your policies and what the company is doing to prevent it. Then, BE LOUD with your actions showing the follow-through. The more public you are, the more trust you will build if you follow it up with action. Don’t get caught saying one thing and doing another!

Please understand that it’s important to embrace not getting it right. No matter how much you “perfect” your message, there will be people who think you’re saying it wrong or not saying enough. We’re not going to get it just right. But the important thing is making sure that we do our best to understand and empathize with others’ perspectives. It’s really that simple.

__________________________________________________________________

The Lessons I Learned From COVID-19

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 16:52:00 GMT

Original Post: NAIFA Advisor Today

“I need to hear something good .”

This is what a friend of mine said to be about 4 years ago, when we were having a trying time in our industry and just needed an influx of positivity.

Fast forward 3 years and some odd months later, I found I was the one who needed to hear something good. My husband and I both tested positive for Covid-19, and although the symptoms for us were mild, I found myself being the one that was bummed out. Days upon days of seeing emails about Covid-19 and what to do and what not to do, and suffering from information overload , and I just needed to hear something good….

This made me hit pause and remind myself, “Innovation is born from necessity.” What a bold statement that just rings so true today!

I’m in New York City, the epicenter of Covid-19, and it is definitely not business as usual.

But we have found new ways to connect with family, friends and clients and also support them in ways we never thought possible.

After doing some brainstorming with my peers, these are the things we started to do to feel more connected:

We did not actively sell . If people come to us and need coverage, we help them. We got so many calls at the beginning of the quarantine from people who had been laid off and were in need of Individual Insurance. – New York City doesn’t pay brokers for their advice; so, instead of our normal $185/hour, we are dropping it down to $100 flat. But we are finding out that we are using more leeway on just answering some general questions from people and pointing them in the right direction without their retaining us.
We reached out in kindness. We had a lot of prospective clients who were in the process of setting up new group plans or business insurance policies and we reached out just to check on them, tell them we know things have changed, and want them to know that we can pick things up whenever they are ready
You know those 4,712 emails all of us received about Covid-19? We pulled out a lot of important information from them , put it into one blog posting, and reached out to all our clients with just a “Checking In” email. – We got a positive response from this email and our clients shared with us what they are going through and what they are doing. One client is writing a new book, one is shifting their cooking classes to online classes, and some have created disaster relief funds for their own staff. So, what we did with these responses was to ask them to share with us links or information, and then we passed that information on to others.
Whenever a client reached out to us about a fund they have created, we made a donation and shared the information on our Social Media accounts.

One of the things I learned from all of this is that you have to let people do things for you, too. When my brother was sick with cancer when we were kids, the Chaplain at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital told my mother, “You have to be a gracious receiver.” So, I have eaten a little piece of humble pie and let people do for me.

I can’t tell you how many industry friends have reached out to me just to check on me and offer support. I have had people send us masks, go food shopping for us, and just “Face Timed” with us to see how we are doing.

It’s been amazing to have Zoom dinner parties and Happy Hours and be able to feel connected when we felt like we were on an island. There are truly so many incredible people in my life, including many men and women in our industry. These peers of ours are working hard to make an impact on our industry during this difficult time. They all serve as a shining light in such a dark time, and I am grateful to all of them.

Stay strong, my friends.

Bio:

Susan L Combs, PPACA, ChHC, is president of Combs& Company, LLC, a full-service insurance brokerage firm. She is a past recipient of NAIFA’s Four Under Forty Award, and past president of Women in Insurance and Financial Services.

COVID-19 Legal Update: Amendments to PPP Loans

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 11:29:00 GMT

Thanks to our good friend, Michael Futterman , Partner at McCusker, Anselmi, Rosen & Carvelli, P.C. * for the below helpful information for our clients and friends regarding the amendments to the PPP loans!

On Friday, June 5th, the President signed into law H.R. 7010 which amends several provisions of the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program. In particular, the following changes are effective immediately:

Loan Forgiveness

The “covered period” for forgiveness is extended to 24 weeks or December 31, 2020, whichever is earlier. This additional time is critical for those businesses which are just now beginning to re-open.
The percentage of loan proceeds that must be used for payroll costs was changed from 75% to 60%. Keep in mind, the legislation adds a new wrinkle requiring you to meet this 60% threshold to obtain any forgiveness, as opposed to previously where it was proportional. In other words, you now need to make sure you hit 60%; otherwise there is no forgiveness.
The period to restore the number of employees and amount of payroll to qualify for full forgiveness has been extended to December 31, 2020.
The reduction penalty no longer applies if the borrower, in good faith, is able to document that:
- The borrower was unable to rehire a terminated employee and unable to hire a similarly qualified employee to replace the terminated employee; and
- The borrower was unable to return to the same level of business activity as before February 15, 2020, due to compliance with guidance issued by Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Director of Center for Disease Control and Prevention or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, during the period from March 1, 2020 until December 31, 2020, related to the maintenance of standards for sanitation, social distancing or any other worker or customer safety requirements related to COVID-19

Loan Details

The time to pay back any unforgiven portion of a PPP loan is increased to 5 years. This is automatic for loans submitted after June 5; pre-existing loans can also be extended to 5 years, but require agreement by the lender.
Payment of principal, interest and fees is deferred until “the date on which the amount of forgiveness determined…is remitted to the lender.”
Borrowers can now apply for loan forgiveness up to ten months from the day their covered period ends (whichever period is elected); if they fail to do so, no forgiveness will be allowed.

Payroll Taxes

Borrowers may defer 50% of the employer share of their 2020 Social Security taxes until end of 2021 and the other half until end of 2022, even if the borrower’s PPP loan is forgiven prior to December 31, 2020 (originally, deferral was not permitted for a borrower with a forgiven PPP loan).

*Attorney Advertising: The foregoing is a summary of the laws discussed above for the purpose of providing a general overview of these laws. These materials are not meant, nor should they be construed, to provide information that is specific to any law(s). The above is not legal advice and you should consult with counsel concerning the applicability of any law to your particular situation.

NY Forward Safety Program Guidance

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 12:21:00 GMT

Thanks to our good friend, Michael Futterman , Partner at McCusker, Anselmi, Rosen & Carvelli, P.C. * for the below helpful information for our New York clients and friends!

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Each business or entity, including those that have been designated as essential under Empire State Development’s Essential Business Guidance, must develop a written Safety Plan outlining how its workplace will prevent the spread of COVID-19.

A business may fill out THIS TEMPLATE to fulfill the requirement, or may develop its own Safety Plan. This plan does not need to be submitted to a state agency for approval but must be retained on the premises of the business and must made available to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) or local health or safety authorities in the event of an inspection. Business owners should refer to the State’s industry-specific guidance for more information on how to safely operate. For a list of regions and sectors that are authorized to re-open, as well as detailed guidance for each sector, please visit: www.forward.ny.gov . If your industry is not included in the posted guidance but your businesses has been operating as essential, please refer to ESD’s Essential Business Guidance and adhere to the guidelines within this Safety Plan.

Please continue to regularly check the New York Forward site for guidance that is applicable to your business or certain parts of your business functions, and consult the state and federal resources listed below.

Here is a helpful list of things to keep in mind during this time:

New York businesses must create a COVID-19 health and safety plan for employees and the public. A template includes provisions for developing physical distancing protocols, providing personal protective equipment to employees, creating hygiene and cleaning protocols, implementing communication practices, creating a COVID-19 screening process, adopting contact tracing protocols, and developing a plan for cleaning and disinfection. It’s also a great resource for NJ businesses.
Make sure to implement mandatory health screening assessments including a questionnaire and temperature checks.
Limit the total number of employees in the office, enforce 6ft social distancing, and modify/reconfigure the office to allow for social distancing.
Provide workers with facemasks at no cost and have an adequate supply in case of need for replacement. Train workers on how to use PPE. Limit the sharing of objects (i.e. tools, machinery, etc.)
Adhere to hygiene, cleaning and disinfection requirements of the CDC and Department of Health. Provide and maintain hand hygiene stations in the office. Clean and disinfect the offices on a routine basis.
Communicate, post signage and train employees on COVID 19 issues.
Employees who are sick should stay home or return home if they become ill at work.
Don’t forget about your leave obligations under FFCRA, Emergency FMLA, New York State COVID-19 leave, New York Paid Family Leave, New York City or Westchester Earned Sick Time, New Jersey Earned sick Leave, or short-term disability leave
Consider a delayed reopening or a slow opening, allowing employees to continue to obtain increased unemployment benefits.
Don’t forget about your wage and hour obligations i.e. when you reduce salary/hours, pay wages, furlough employees, have employees work from home, impose temperature checks, pre-shift sanitizing, or daily check-in procedures.

How to Decide Which Employees to Bring Back from Furlough

Tue, 19 May 2020 14:46:00 GMT

Strategizing on how to bring some furloughed employees back? Check out this great video from colleague, Chelsea Whalley of J Donovan Financial.

1. Create a staffing plan that revolves around the needs of the COMPANY first. Ask yourself where you anticipate being busy and where you may be slower. Create a plan accordingly.
2. Choose which staff return based on unique skill sets needed, overall job performance, seniority/tenure, or their willingness to do jobs outside of their normal scope.
3. DO NOT discriminate based on age, perceived disabilities, or by retaliating for taking paid sick leave.

Make sure to DOCUMENT your process ahead of time and COMMUNICATE to your staff your plan to avoid unnecessary stress for everyone.

*REMEMBER TO ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR ATTORNEY OR HUMAN RESOURCES VENDOR FOR ADVICE* If you need these types of vendors, we can refer you to them.

To the Mizzou Grads of 2020!

Fri, 15 May 2020 11:41:00 GMT

Thinking of all the Mizzou grads this weekend in the class of 2020!

I graduated in 2001 from the Ag School with a Bachelor of Science in Hotel & Restaurant Management. I’ve always described my degree as a business degree with cooking classes and where all the fun people were. I started out at Mizzou with a full ride in Air Force ROTC for a Chemical Engineering degree and had 4 additional declared Majors (Mechanical Engineering, Atmospheric Science, Elementary Education and double Major in Communications & German) until I found my home with the HRM people….hey, it’s not my fault I have so many different interests.

I even remember when I decided to look into HRM, my father was in town for a military ball that was at the main conference center at the time (Holiday Inn Select) and he said “Suz, I was talking to some kids at the Front Desk and they told me their Major was Hospitality, I think you’d really enjoy that and could see you being a meeting planner.” So I went at checked out the program, talked to Professor Michael Keene and Dr. Jim Groves , switched to the program, started showing up on the Dean’s List and served as a TA for Hospitality Accounting and Professional Bar & Beverage Management. I also went back and worked at that same hotel at the Front Desk and in Corporate Sales before landing at the Hearnes Center to work in Events where I got to help plan concerts and sporting events.

I still hold dear the friendships I made my Freshman year and beyond. The past 4 years I was lucky enough to be asked to “come back home” and serve on the University of Missouri Alumni Board, work with the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic and excited to announce that I will be a part of The Jefferson Club Board of Trustees this coming Fall. Every time I think of my professional journey, Mizzou has been in the background as my foundation for my career, my business and my connections. So to the Mizzou grads that have a case of the Ho Hums since they won’t get to cross the stage this weekend, know that you are honored by this Alum and so many others. When I look back, I don’t remember the ceremony, I remember the people that helped make me Mizzou Made.

PPP Forgiveness Application Process & Documents to Prepare

Thu, 14 May 2020 17:43:00 GMT

Here’s a follow up on yesterday’s post, did you get the PPP loan and now you are concerned about the process and what documents you need to prepare in order to have the loan forgiven? Check out this great video from colleague, Chelsea Whalley of J Donovan Financial.

The CARES Act requires employers to apply for loan forgiveness with the same lender they applied for the PPP loan at the end of the eight-week period following the disbursement of their loan.

When applying for loan forgiveness, employers will need to provide the following information:

The total requested amount to be forgiven
Documentation verifying the number and pay rate of FTEs on payroll:
- Payroll tax filings with the IRS
- State income, payroll and unemployment insurance filings
Documentation verifying covered mortgage interest, rent or lease obligations, and utilities
Certification from an authorized representative for the employer that all supplied documentation is true to the fullest extent possible
Certification from an authorized representative for the employer that the amount requested to be forgiven complies with PPP guidelines

After submitting an application, lenders must make a decision on whether an employer’s PPP loan will be forgiven, or how much of the loan will be forgiven, within 60 days. In some cases, a lender may ask for additional information. Employers should monitor their application and pay attention to any requests for additional information. For questions on your company’s loan forgiveness eligibility or application, contact your lender.

Maintain Eligibility for PPP Forgiveness

Wed, 13 May 2020 19:43:00 GMT

Did you get the PPP loan and now you are concerned about making sure the loan is fully forgiven? Check out this great video from colleague, Chelsea Whalley of J Donovan Financial.

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/…

Employer Checklist: How to Support Workplace Mental Wellness as you Reopen

Mon, 11 May 2020 13:33:00 GMT

Mike Veny, Mental health speaker, drummer and best-selling author shares a powerful checklist on how to support your employees during this time. This list includes:

1. Change the way you view everyone.

2. Understand there are different levels of anxiety.

3. Remember everyone has a unique home situation.

CLICK HERE to download the entire list and advice on how to implement!

_________________

http://www.mikeveny.com

213-458-8369

mike@mikeveny.com

Wonder Woman Wednesday: 2020 Broker of the Year finalist: Teri Weber

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 12:57:00 GMT

I was honored with receiving this award in 2017 and thrilled that Teri Weber is a finalist for this year! Today, on Wonder Woman Wednesday, we wanted to honor her and share the article she was in at BenefitsPro !

Click Here for the original article!

2020 Broker of the Year finalist: Teri Weber

Have questions about absence management or disability leave policies? Teri Weber is your go-to gal.

When Teri Weber started working from home full time, she found it a bit of an adjustment. It was almost like being absent from work. Which just happens to be one of her specialties. Weber is a partner with Boston-based Spring Consulting Group, LLC , an Alera Group Company. When COVID-19 began to confine millions of workers to their homes, she was swamped by client calls regarding work absences.

“‘Will quarantine be a disability?’ ‘People all want to take their sick time now; how do we do that?’ ‘What if 50 percent of our workforce cashes in on what they’ve banked? Could people do a time donation?’ ‘What do I do for employees who work from home but need to care for kids?’ It’s always a balancing act of finance and policy. It gets into the weeds quickly,” Weber says.

But it turns out that is where Weber spends a lot of her time: in the weeds with clients, showing them the way out.

Weber became a partner with Spring Consulting in 2008, where she has focused on disciplines such as absence management that can save clients time, money, and management headaches. Absence policies can be shockingly ad hoc, inconsistent, and are often crafted in the breach, rather than the legal or human resources departments. During the COVID-19 outbreak, Weber has had to explain to clients that actions they take to attempt to manage a tidal wave of absence incidents could easily become company policy.

“We speak a different language than most people,” she says. “An employee will say, ‘I need time off for something.’ That’s how they think about it. Our work is around compliance, cost and culture. We look for the best programs we can design, from leave time to return to work.”

Another area of focus is student debt and student loan payments as a benefit.

In the quest to land top young graduates, companies experiment with offering student debt payments. Weber likes to include the benefit in a plan design, but only if she believes it is being offered for the right reasons.

“It is often a targeted approach to address turnover among younger people, or to attract young talent. Other employers just want to give it as a benefit without a specific objective.” Weber asks, is the target of the benefit specific or general? Short term or long term?

“That $2,000 can make a huge difference to a young person. But does it serve your overall strategy?” she says.

One could get the impression that Spring deals largely with major employers, those who have the financial clout, employee numbers, and staffing to engage in creative plan design. But that’s not the case.

One of Spring’s most devoted clients is edHEALTH, a three-person health insurance captive based in Rhode Island. edHEALTH is a member-owned consortium that serves as the stop-loss provider for group members, mostly East Coast colleges, universities, and charter schools, including Boston College, Sarah Lawrence, Brandeis, Wellesley and Emerson.

Tracy Hassett, president and CEO of the captive, says Weber served as an early advisor to the original 24 members as they developed their model.

“When we started talking, we were faced with numerous barriers,” Hassett says. “Brokers and consultants at the schools were nervous about taking that business away from them.

Meanwhile, the schools we talked to made it clear they didn’t want to change their plan design. They wanted to be part of the consortium and save money. ‘But we don’t want to make any changes to plan design or to our carriers or upset faculty or staff.’”

Hasset feared it would take long hours over many meetings to arrive at a plan design that would satisfy all the members. Enter Weber. Working with Hassett, she helped the members reach agreement quickly on a common plan design.

“Teri is easy to talk to, offers very clear descriptions, and she made sure potential members at the time knew that we were trying to deliver a program to minimize costs and maximize coverage. That is still the role she plays and she does a wonderful job.”

In the years since, the group has grown, while costs have held steady. Average premium growth per member over the last six years had been 3.5 percent, while admiration for Spring and Weber grows every year.

“Spring has been an incredible partner since before our inception, and an incredible partner in helping us grow,” Hassett says.

Meanwhile, back in her “home” office, Weber is getting new insights into the challenges her plan members face when forced to juggle work and child are duties. Her two daughters, 12 and 14, don’t need a lot of supervision with the family cooped up in the house, but like kids all over, they have been attempting to master online learning while Mom and Dad grow accustomed to virtual meetings, the intricacies of telecommuting, and keeping dispersed teams motivated during a global pandemic.

But Weber manages to keep a positive attitude as she attempts to establish “a new normalcy at home.”

“I’m an optimist. I look for the good people out there. The sun is always shining, even when there are clouds are in the way!”

Working from Home Guide

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 13:37:00 GMT

Most people are working from home these days due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. In order to make work more efficient it’s important to follow these steps in order to be most productive.

1. Follow your standard routine.
2. Set up a special workspace.
3. Use video calls to keep in touch.
4. Use task management to keep track of progress.
5. Do not stay in the same position for too long.
6. Make sure to exercise everyday.
7. Find what helps you concentrate.
8. Look after your mental health.

Feature Friday: Business As (Un)usual?

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 15:46:00 GMT

I recently posted an observation on LinkedIn. In one 24-hour period . . .

We entered a bear market.
A significant travel ban from Europe was imposed.
The NBA suspended its season while the NCAA announced March Madness would be played in empty arenas (talk about surreal).
And, what may have been at the top of the surreal scale on any other day, a former vice-presidential candidate (Sarah Palin) sang “Baby Got Back” on “The Masked Singer.”

Of course, that surreal 24 hours has grown into an exponentially more surreal week with no end to the escalation in sight.

The questions are endless, personally and professionally. In that post, I offered some suggestions to maintain SOME level of personal grounding. I suggested we all . . .

Sit in 10 minutes of meditation
Go for a walk
Read something for pure enjoyment
Call a friend and have a nostalgic conversation (i.e., nothing about current events)
Just do something to restore a sense of sanity and control to your day

I encouraged us to all – Be safe. Be smart. Be balanced.

I feel these suggestions are still solid but, given the events of the 72 hours or so that have transpired since then, they only begin to touch on the significance of what we are experiencing. This is a much more significant health crisis than we knew even that short time ago. It seems clear we still don’t just how significant it will prove to be.

It cannot be denied; we are all being impacted personally.

But, what about professionally?

At the risk of seeming impersonal and insensitive, what about our businesses? What adjustments do we need to be making?

We see many government-imposed changes. Restaurants and bars are being closed or put on restricted operations. Schools are being closed or moved online. Gatherings of more than 10 (as of this writing – it was 50 when I started) are being canceled or postponed.

Beyond the government-imposed restrictions, many businesses that rely on “social proximity” (I know, not necessarily the right use of this phrase, but I mean the opposite of social distancing) have chosen to close on their own.

I understand the need to protect health and life at all costs, but that doesn’t stop me from worrying about the long-term business implications of these decisions. How many businesses will fail? How many employees of closed businesses will never recover financially? Again, these aren’t life and death questions (in most cases), but they’re still very real.

A business “gray” area?

And, what about businesses that are either already virtual and remote in their operations or are capable of performing at least some activities without threat to others? By maintaining some “new normal” level of business operations, do they run the risk of appearing insensitive? Or, is it maybe their responsibility to continue operations?

Before I share my thoughts, you should know that our entire business operation runs virtually and remotely. Each of our team members works individually in their own office space. We are among the “socially-distanced elite” in that regard. While this arrangement does present limitations, it has prepared us for where we are today. Over the next few days/weeks, we’ll be sharing some tips that have helped us build a successful business this rather unusual way.

Here’s my perspective and opinion.

If a behavior puts anybody else at risk, it needs to be changed. The physical health of everyone has to be our number one priority.
I believe our mental health has to be a very close second to our physical health. For me, that means maintaining daily activities that are as close to normal as possible. Sure, we may have to work from home instead of going into the office but, if that’s possible, I feel it is way healthier than not working at all.
Finally, we will come out of this and, when we do, we need businesses to be as strong as possible. That can’t be the case if we bring everything to a complete halt.

So, what will I be doing personally?

I will be aware of my physical movements and the effects they have on others.
I will be respectful of the decision others may make to more drastically curtail their business operations.
I will continue to work/live as much of an uninterrupted daily life as is responsibly possible.
I will be understanding of those who have a different opinion than mine.

What about us as Q4intelligence ?

Our role is to help our clients build stronger businesses, and we’re finding there are a lot of needs right now to that end. We’re helping our agencies make decisions and take actions in the best interests of their own businesses and the lives of their clients. So, our work isn’t slowing down.

We hope you aren’t offended when you see us active on LinkedIn.
We hope you aren’t shocked when you see our blog posts pop up in your inbox on Mondays and Thursdays.
We hope you don’t mind when we respond to your inquiry.
We hope you understand the spirit in which we will be working for the foreseeable future.
We hope you know how much we are thinking about you during this unprecedented time.

Above all else, we hope for your health, safety, and balance.

Photo baranq.

Section 125 Considerations for Mid-Year Enrollments

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 17:17:00 GMT

Looking for an easy digestible explanation what considerations to make for Mid-Year Enrollments under a Section 125 plan? Check out this great video from colleague, Chelsea Whalley of J Donovan Financial.

Special Mid-Year Enrollment Window

1. Get Approval from Health Insurer in writing. If Self-funded, approval comes from stop-loss carrier.
2. Decide if these special deductions will be pre-tax or post-tax. As of right now, the IRS has issued no guidance for pre-tax elections due to COVID-19.

Section 125 Mid Year Election Change Events:
1. Change in employment status if the change impacts eligibility for health plan
2. A significant change in health plan coverage
3. HIPAA Special Enrollment (marriage, birth, etc)

To avoid any unintended liability, employers should check with your CPA and/or attorney to decide what is best for your business.

Wonder Woman Wednesday: Amanda Kindler

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 16:38:00 GMT

This week’s # WonderWomanWednesday is someone near and dear to us in NYC. Amanda Kindler was a Registered Nurse working in Oncology prior to the Covid-19 Pandemic and was part of the first Covid Unit in the NYU Hospital System. When Amanda has some downtime, which is rare, she’s sure to log in her CrossFit workout from the CrossFit Dutch Kills box in Queens, NY where she has been a member for about 2 years. We salute Amanda and all the other healthcare providers putting themselves at risk during this time to help the people of our city!

Feature Friday! Managing Remote Employees: Key Insights and Advice

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 11:37:00 GMT

For this edition of #FeatureFriday check out our guest blog by The Jacobs Group , the leading provider of talent to the insurance industry. We greatly appreciate their keen insight to the subject matter and contributing to our blog this week, this content applies to anyone that is managing employees remotely during this time and beyond.

As the insurance industry adapts to a workforce that is primarily – if not completely – remote, many managers are finding themselves overseeing work-at-home employees for the first time. At Jacobson, many of our corporate employees and temporary staff work remotely on a regular basis. We asked a few leaders across our organization for their key insights and advice on effectively managing remote staff.

Prioritize communication.

Salil Shenoy, Controller: My open-door policy remains the same whether we’re in the office or working remotely. Making time to be actively engaged and available is crucial. This entails scheduled and ad-hoc one-on-one and team meetings with clear agendas to ensure the time is focused and productive. Communication and trust are key! This is even more true when individuals on your team are dependent on other employees they no longer see in person. Open and honest communication helps create a collaborative and positive environment that is proactive and preventative, rather than reactive and corrective.

Nikki St.Martin, Vice President, Marketing Communications: It is more important than ever to ensure everyone is on the same page regarding everything from work hours to deadlines and production levels. Schedule a weekly call with your team to share the department’s priorities for the week and address workflows and any challenges. Continue to provide regular feedback, both positive and constructive, so employees know if they are performing at the expected levels.

Karen Aiello, Assistant Vice President, Account Management: I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years, and it’s important to stay in constant communication. Make sure there is a good understanding of priorities, expectations and performance/quality goals.

Alison Wetmore, Assistant Marketing Manager: Coach your team for your communication style. Be sure to spell out the level of communication you expect. For example, if you want individuals to confirm they have received emails about new projects, be sure to let them know.

Focus on trust.

Kylee Lacson, Assistant Vice President, Life: It’s important to trust your employees and let them do their jobs. Micromanaging will have a negative impact on productivity. If you are seeing a dip in work product or quality, approach them from the angle of “How can I help?” versus “Why didn’t you do X?”

Tanya Rinsky, Senior Account Manager, Health: Come from a place of support, always assume positive intent and respond quickly, even if it’s just to say you’ll get back to them when you know more. When communicating by phone and body language can’t be used as a guide, it’s important to ask lots of probing questions to ensure you fully understand what the person is trying to communicate.

Abbe Sodikoff, Senior Vice President: For people who prefer to work alone, it can be challenging to get them engaged with the group as a whole. Finding ways for those individuals to lead a discussion or participate and contribute without feeling put on the spot can be challenging. However, taking extra time to meet those people at their comfort level is well worth it.

Judy Busby, Senior Vice President, Executive Search and Corporate Strategy: Each employee has different needs. You must adapt to each employee to maximize team contributions, company culture and professional development.

Set boundaries.

Kylee: Set boundaries around availability to help people unplug for the day. If an email isn’t urgent at 9 p.m., then use the “delay send” feature so your employees can feel comfortable setting boundaries with their time. People who are new to working at home tend to be challenged with turning off work. Small adjustments can help with that.

Leverage technology.

Alison: As our team has grown, we’ve needed to find ways to best manage multiple people working on different aspects of a project. Technology such as Basecamp and Trello can help track where projects stand at any given time, as well as who is responsible for each part of a project.

Connect on a personal level.

Dave: I believe that you don’t manage “people,” you manage “personalities.” What I mean by this is not all people are the same, and they have different needs when it comes to being supported and managed. It’s important to realize this and tailor the way you manage your employees using different means and techniques to get the best return on your investment.

Nikki: Small talk happens naturally in the office, in the lunchroom, passing in the hallway. When everyone is working remotely, maintaining a connection takes intentionality. Many of your employees are juggling more than they are used to in the game of life. Take a few moments at least once per week to just call (or even better, Facetime or Skype video) and see how they are really coping. Use group messaging software to say good morning, share a funny story in the afternoon or ask about employees’ plans for the weekend.

Catherine Prete, Senior Vice President, Operations: It can be easy to slip into “all business” mode when you don’t see the person. Be intentional about connecting differently in communications that don’t involve seeing your staff. For instance, start calls by asking about personal matters and express appreciation. Now that all of my staff is remote, I have learned that not only can we easily survive in this environment, we can thrive. Everyone has been diligent to keep the human connections in lots of unique ways.

About The Jacobs Group: The Jacobson Group is the leading provider of talent to the insurance industry. They offer executive search, recruiting and temporary staffing services at all levels across all industry verticals.

Click Here for the original post!

Here are ways for New Yorkers can help during this crisis

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 17:09:00 GMT

We know New Yorkers are resilient and are ready to push up their sleeves and help their community during times of struggle, however we are in uncharged waters. If you are looking for ways to help out during this time, the Capalino+Company team has published an excellent list to show creative ways you can help during this time! Stay Safe!

Here are ways for New Yorkers can help during this crisis:

Donate masks, gowns, and gloves, which are in short supply for doctors and nurses, to the Greater New York Hospital Association ; if your business has previously purchased these items, or if you have them in storage, please contact Laura for more information
Help Food Bank for New York City prepare for increased need
Donate now to Citymeamals on Wheels to help your elderly neighbors in need
Support God’s Love We Deliver in providing emergency kits to all clients
Share the mission of Invisible Hands to provide safe, free food deliveries for NYC’s most at-risk communities facing COVID-19
Sign up for alerts from New York Cares to learn more about what city agencies and community partners are doing to help those most impacted by COVID-19
Donate to the WHYHunger Rapid Response Fund to protect food access for all people by bolstering WHY’s work with emergency food providers, small-scale farmers, and food chain workers
Secure masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer for police officers on patrol across the city through the New York City Police Foundation
Broaden your reach by contributing to The New York Community Trust NYC COVID-19 Response & Impact Fund to aid nonprofit service providers struggling with the health and economic effects of the coronavirus; the fund will give grants and loans to NYC-based nonprofits that are trying to meet the new and urgent needs that are hitting the city
Help the Robin Hood Foundation raise funds to put together a food program for their network of nonprofits to continue to serve low-income communities

Click Here for the original post!

Wonder Woman Wednesday: What’s the good news, ladies? April edition.

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 14:46:00 GMT

Hello from the Covid-19 epicenter, aka NYC. I don’t know about you all, but the past few weeks have been crazy, exhausting and just plain sad at times. It is definitely not business as usual here and I know that’s true in many other places as well, but I also know we will all make it through this time. One of the things that has kept me going during quarantine is connecting with the incredible women from our industry who are still able to share some great ideas with me about what they are most proud of in the last 12 months. Be on the lookout for another article coming soon that will include many of the featured women in this series who will share what they have been doing to stay connected with their clients during all of this.

This month, I’m going to introduce you to two new friends who have been a great source of information and support for me during this time. I know I have said it before, but it is so important to develop these peer-to-peer mentorship relationships, because when there are rough times like these, we pull each other up and help each other to excel. Please join me in welcoming Chelsea and Jennifer to the fold.

Chelsea Whalley, J Donovan Financial

“In the past 12 months, my biggest accomplishment has been learning that my business is not actually about me.

When I owned my first agency, I was infatuated with the idea of developing other agents. While this sounds admirable, I was truly motivated by the energy rush I received seeing others succeed. Even though I was helping others, at the core of it all, it was still about me.

Even in my second agency, there have been times when I put together the best options for a prospect to save them money and time; yet, I still don’t win. When this would happen, I would make it about me (my presentation skills, my sales skills, etc). Perhaps it was, but there’s a good chance that it was about one of the million other factors that business owners consider when making decisions.

The truth, and my biggest lesson, is that nothing is about me. I have learned that the only way to truly scale my business and help as many employees and clients as possible is to let go of the belief that the outcome is directly tied to my worth as an advisor or as a person. With this, I can finally be present and enjoy the work I am doing.”

Jennifer Warfield, CPF®, National Life Group

“I’ve been in financial services many years and I’ve never been more excited to do what I do. My passion lies in supporting women and giving back. In my role, training and developing agents to build their business, I’m able to do both. I’ve seen great success among the women leaders who count for almost half of my business. In the last year, I’m pleased to have been highest-producing field leader at my company, hitting record sales. And helping my agents learn and grow gives their clients peace of mind.

One of the best aspects of our industry is the relationships among the women within it. I am fortunate to be supported and inspired by many great women. In 2019, I was named WIFS Woman of the Year, a wonderful honor. Celebrating success within our field is an important way to create community and inspire the next generation.”

I know that I, as well as the crew here at BenefitsPRO are thinking of everyone during these uncertain times. As always, if you know of great women in the field who are working hard to make this this industry even better, send an email introduction to me at scombs@combsandco.com . I’d love to connect! Stay safe my friends.

Click Here for the original article at BenefitsPro

5 things employers need to know about the CARES Act

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 17:01:00 GMT

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed by President Trump on March 27 after passing both the House and Senate earlier in the week. This $2.2 trillion stimulus package is wide-reaching and intended to provide economic relief for the individuals and businesses hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting financial downturn. Within the 800-page bill, there are several important provisions affecting employers, including requirements for coverage of COVID-19 testing and treatments. There are also provisions that extend beyond the coronavirus into other areas of employer benefit designs with potential impact to group health plans beyond the current public health emergency.

Stay Safe – Understanding the Symptoms of Covid-19

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 11:00:00 GMT

Just some quick information on symptoms of Covid-19 and what to do if you think you may be infected.

How CARES Act Impacts Employer Health Plans

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 15:38:00 GMT

Curious how the CARES Act will impact Employer Health Plans? Check out this great video from colleague, Chelsea Whalley of J Donovan Financial.

On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) into law to provide $2.2 trillion in federal funding to address the COVID-19 crisis. The CARES Act makes a variety of changes affecting health plans. These changes include:

1. Expanding the types of coronavirus testing that all health plans and health insurance issuers must cover without cost-sharing (such as deductibles, copayments or coinsurance) or prior authorization

2. Accelerating the process that will require health plans and issuers to cover preventive services and vaccines related to COVID-19

3. Allowing telehealth and other remote care services to be covered under a high deductible health plan (HDHP) before the deductible is met, without affecting the HDHP’s compatibility with health savings accounts (HSAs) (applicable for HDHP plan years beginning on or before Dec. 31, 2021)

4. Treating over-the-counter (OTC) medications, along with menstrual care products, as qualified medical expenses that may be paid for using HSAs or other tax-advantaged arrangements, such as health flexible spending accounts (FSAs) or health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs)

4 Ways to Keep Health Coverage

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 15:34:00 GMT

Here are 4 quick ways to keep your health insurance coverage by our Combs & Company friend, Chelsea Whalley of J Donovan Financial.

This is for employees who have lost coverage through an Employer Sponsored Plan.

1) COBRA- Contact your Benefits Administrator. Remember, there is no employer contribution so this is an expensive option.

2) Spouse Plan- This Qualifying Life Event (loss of coverage) creates a window of opportunity to join your spouse’s health plan. Contact your spouse’s Benefits Administrator for pricing.

3) Medicaid- A severe loss of income may qualify you for Medicaid at http://www.medicaid.gov

4) Healthcare.gov – The QLE allows you 60 days to enroll in an individual plan on the marketplace.

Paycheck Protection Program Forgivability Explained

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 15:05:00 GMT

Looking for an easy digestible explanation for how the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) works? Check out this great video from colleague, Chelsea Whalley of J Donovan Financial.

Total Loan Value: Lesser of 10 million or 2.5x the average monthly total payroll incurred in the one year period prior to the loan start date.
Forgivable Portion: 8 weeks from the loan start date used for payroll, interest on mortgage, rent and utilities. At least 75% to payroll.
Main Point: The FORGIVABLE portion of the loan is tied DIRECTLY to Employees being paid- if you decrease wages or terminate, the forgivability is threatened.
*This loan is designed specifically to connect employees back to their employers.
* Loan Application: https://home.treasury.gov/system/file…
Find Approved Lenders: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/…

New York Tough

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 12:21:00 GMT

Hey Guys—

Know it’s rough for us here in NY, but we got this. It’s a new week and we got this. Don’t forget that we are New York Tough!

– Combs Crew

https://youtu.be/5l_BGKax6gE

Credit: CONVICTS.NYC

Small Business Exemptions for Paid Sick Leave Explained

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 15:42:00 GMT

Chelsea Whalley

J Donovan Financial.

New Jersey Specific Loans/Grants for Small Businesses

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 13:07:00 GMT

Thanks to our good friend, Michael Futterman , Partner at McCusker, Anselmi, Rosen & Carvelli, P.C. * for the below helpful information for our Jersey clients and friends!

New Jersey’s Economic Development Authority recently approved a $40M program which will provide grants and loans or guarantee private bank loans to small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The EDA package includes a half dozen programs for New-Jersey based businesses including the following:

The smallest businesses, those 10 or fewer full-time equivalent employees, can receive grants between $1,000 and $5,000. The grants specifically target companies in retail, personal-care, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, food service, laundry and repair services. In order to receive money, businesses will have to attest that they need this money to tide them over and won’t cut any employees or will make every effort to rehire laid off or furloughed staff.
The EDA also has set aside $10 million to make loans up to $100,000 each to mid-sized businesses with less than $5 million in annual revenues to help them meet payroll. The 10-year loans would have zero interest for the first five years and the interest rate would be capped at 3 percent for the second half of the loan.
Two more programs, $15 million in total, will be run through community development financial institutions to make available low-interest loans to small businesses that may not be able to tap into traditional bank borrowing. The NJ Entrepreneur Support Program targets start-ups with less than $5 million in revenue and fewer than 25 employees by providing 80 percent loan guarantees to entrepreneurs.

The $5 million in small business grants will open for applications at 9 a.m. TODAY. Other programs will be out in the coming weeks. Application window opens TODAY at 9am, application here, https://www.njeda.com/pdfs/NJEDA_COVID-19_Economic-Response-Package-Initial-W .

Staying Healthy During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 11:00:00 GMT

Just some quick tips to stay healthy during the Covid-19 Pandemic!

Federal Loan Forgiveness CARES Act

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 18:05:00 GMT

Curious how the forgivable loans work under the CARES Act? Check out this great video from colleague, Chelsea Whalley of J Donovan Financial.

Federal Payroll Tax Credits for Paying Sick Leave

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 17:58:00 GMT

Check out this great video from colleague, Chelsea Whalley of J Donovan Financial. Chelsea explains how eligible employer tax credits will fully reimburse employers for all qualifying sick and child-care leave payments mandated under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act by REDUCING PAYROLL TAXES owed to the IRS.

*Employers will be entitled to an ADDITIONAL CREDIT for the cost of MAINTAINING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE!*

– Employers will be able to file for accelerated payments to refund employers for qualifying leave payments in excess of federal payroll taxes owed.

– Small businesses will be eligible for an exemption to the mandated sick and leave payments if they demonstrate that payment of child-care leave under the Act threatens the viability of their business.

– Enforcement actions will be delayed by thirty days for employers that act reasonably and in good faith to comply with the Act.

*Note: Information is changing daily, please check with Dept of Labor and/or an employment attorney for exact information*

CARES Act FAQs from Congress Woman Carolyn B. Maloney

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 15:54:00 GMT

Carolyn B. Maloney

On Monday, Inspector General Michael Horowitz took a strong first step toward implementing the oversight requirements included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act by quickly appointing a Chair for the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC). This committee was created by one of the provisions Carolyn B. Maloney offered to the CARES Act as Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Maloney’s office created this FAQ sheet for small businesses and nonprofits to help you navigate some of these new resources.

Emergency Paid Sick Leave Explained

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 17:12:00 GMT

Looking for an easy digestible explanation of how the Emergency Paid Sick Leave works for companies under 500 employees? Check out this great video from colleague, Chelsea Whalley of J Donovan Financial.

– Effective April 2nd 2020 for groups UNDER 500 EMPLOYEES

*A business closure does NOT warrant Paid Sick Leave!*

– All employees are eligible, regardless of tenure
– Differences between Full Time & Part Time Employees
– Full Time: 80 hours of fully compensated time off
– Part Time: Entitled to the Average number of hours worked over 2 weeks

Covid-19: How the CARES Act and Other Recent Legislation Impact Your Business

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 12:13:00 GMT

As we know there is so much information out there right now revolving around Covid-10. If you are looking for how the CARES Act and other legislation will impact your business, please read below for a helpful article we received from Olivera Medenica, Partner of Dunnington, Bartholow & Miller LLP .

Within the past few days—and as recently as 72 hours ago—the United States government, the State of New York and the City of New York adopted legislation intended to provide economic relief to businesses and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 emergency. The following is a review of various loans, loan forgiveness provisions, and other benefits created by these recent acts.*

U.S. Federal Laws

On March 27, 2020, an approximately $2 trillion coronavirus response bill, the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act (H.R. 748), was signed into law.

The CARES Act :

Provides Forgivable Loans to Small Businesses

Under the CARES Act’s Paycheck Protection Program, the Small Business Administration (the “SBA”) will back loans of up to $10 million from banks to businesses with not more than 500 employees for those businesses to pay employee salaries, paid sick or medical leave, health insurance premiums, and basic immediate operating expenses like mortgage, rent, and utility payments (“Covered Expenses”).

Borrower Eligibility

There are very few borrower requirements to obtain a loan under the CARES Act. Those requirements include a good-faith certification that the borrower (a) needs the loan to continue operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, (b) will use the funds to retain workers and maintain payroll, or pay the other immediate operating costs, (c) does not have any other pending application under this program for the same purpose, and (d) has not received duplicative amounts under this program from February 15, 2020 until December 31, 2020.

Eligible businesses include private and public non-profits, sole proprietorships, individuals who are self-employed, and businesses with not more than 500 employees (including full-time and part-time employees) per location. For businesses in the hospitality and dining industries, there is a special eligibility rule: if the business has more than one physical location, it employs not more than 500 employees per physical location, and it is assigned to the “Accommodation and Food services” sector (Sector 72) of the North American Industry Classification System, that business is eligible for a loan.

Notably, the CARES Act includes a “Sense of the Senate” that the SBA should issue guidance to lenders to ensure that the processing and disbursements of loans prioritizes small businesses in underserved and rural markets, small businesses owned by individuals who are socially or economically disadvantaged, women owned businesses, and businesses that have been in operation for less than two years.

The Loan Amount

The maximum loan amount (the “Loan Amount”) is the lesser of (a) 2.5 multiplied by the average total monthly payroll costs incurred from the previous one-year period (plus the outstanding amount of any loan that the business received under the SBA’s Disaster Loan Program between January 31, 2020 and the date on which that loan may have been refinanced as part of the Paycheck Protection Program (“Prior SBA Loan Amount”)), or (b) for businesses that were not in existence from February 15, 2019 to June 30, 2019, 2.5 multiplied by the average total monthly payroll costs incurred from January 1, 2020 to February 29, 2020 (plus any Prior SBA Loan Amount), or (c) $10 million. Payroll costs include compensation to independent contractors (including compensation based on commission) up to $100,000 in one year.

Loan Forgiveness

A borrower is entitled to loan forgiveness in an amount equal to Covered Expenses paid during the 8-week period following loan origination (the “Loan Forgiveness Covered Period”). Forgiveness is subject to reduction based on a reduction of the business’s employees, and wages and salaries as explained below (the “Forgiveness Amount”).

To calculate the Forgiveness Amount, the Act instructs to multiply the total of the Covered Expenses incurred during the Loan Forgiveness Covered Period by the result of dividing the average number of full-time equivalent employees (“FTEEs”) that the business employed per month during the 8-week Loan Forgiveness Covered Period, by (at the election of the borrower) either (a) the average number of FTEEs that the business employed per month from February 15, 2019 to June 30, 2019, or (b) the average number of FTEEs that the businesses employed per month from January 1, 2020 to February 29, 2020. The Act also provides that employees whom the business laid off between February 15, 2020 and April 26, 2020, but rehired by June 30, 2020 will, in effect, be treated as employed individuals during the 8-week Loan Forgiveness Covered Period so as not to reduce the Forgiveness Amount.

The Forgiveness Amount will be reduced by the amount of employee salary reduction in excess of 25% of that employee’s total salary during the most recent full quarter during which the employee was employed before the Loan Forgiveness Covered Period. Thus, if the business did not reduce employee salary or wages during the Loan Forgiveness Covered Period by more than 25%, the Forgiveness Amount will not be reduced in this manner.

It is important for businesses to document the use of its funds received under the program pursuant to the documentation provisions in the CARES Act because businesses that to do not properly document their use may be ineligible for loan forgiveness.

Application Process

Businesses can apply for the loans through private sector lenders authorized by the SBA who can use their own paperwork to process the loans. It is estimated that it will take about two weeks for the SBA to approve each loan, and to guarantee it against default. Lenders will not distribute the loan money to businesses until the SBA has assured it that each loan is fully backed, so it may take at least two weeks from applying for the loan for businesses to start receiving the loan money.

Business owners are not required to provide personal guarantees or use their assets as collateral for the loan. There are no fees associated with obtaining the loan, and interest rates are capped at 4%.

Provides Emergency EIDL Grants

The CARES Act provides, in certain circumstances, emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) grants of up to $10,000 from the SBA to small businesses for those businesses to use the funds for, among other things, providing paid sick leave for employees, maintaining payroll, meeting increased costs due to an interrupted supply chain, and making rent or mortgage payments. It is currently uncertain as to what impact, if any, obtaining an emergency grant under this provision may have on applications made under the Paycheck Protection Program.

Expands Unemployment Benefits

Under the CARES Act’s temporary Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, workers not usually eligible for state and federal unemployment benefits—such as independent contractors, and people who are self-employed or who have a limited work history—may receive unemployment benefits if they are unable to work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Anyone who self-certifies that they are able and available to work but is unemployed or partially unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic is considered a “covered individual.” If workers have the ability to work remotely with pay, they are not eligible for these benefits.

Under the CARES Act, unemployment benefits are available for the weeks of unemployment, partial unemployment, or inability to work caused by COVID-19 beginning on or after January 27, 2020 (the date on which the Secretary of Health declared COVID-19 a public health emergency) and ending on or before December 31, 2020, and shall continue to be available as long as the individual’s unemployment, partial unemployment, or inability to work continues, for up to 39 weeks. Individuals will receive the amount that would be calculated under state law plus $600 each week for up to four months, as opposed to the usual three months. Additionally, the standard one-week waiting period is waived, so laid off employees immediately qualify for benefits.

Provides Refundable Payroll Tax Credit to Employers

For businesses whose operations were fully or partially suspended by a government entity due to the COVID-19 pandemic or had a decrease in gross receipts of 50% or more compared to the same quarter last year, the CARES Act provides for a refundable payroll tax credit equal to 50% of the first $10,000 in wages per employee. This payroll tax credit can be claimed for employees who are retained but who do not work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses with 100 or fewer full-time employees can claim the payroll tax credit for all employees’ wages—whether the employer is open for business or has been ordered to close. Businesses with more than 100 full-time employees can claim the credit for employees who are retained but who do not work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

New York City and New York State Laws

Employers that employ at least two employees in New York State seeking to avoid layoffs should also know about the Shared Work Program , which provides partial unemployment benefits to employees who are working reduced hours. To participate, employers must design a “Shared Work Plan” and apply to participate here at least one week before the proposed effective date. After an employer’s plan is approved, participating employees must file unemployment insurance Shared Work claims. Eligible employees include those who qualify to receive unemployment insurance benefits in New York state and who normally work no more than 40 hours per week. Covered employees may receive up to 26 weeks of regular Shared Work benefits in one year. Currently, it is unclear how employers would take advantage of the New York State Shared Work Program and the Federal Paycheck Protection Program simultaneously. One potential scenario is that the reduction in salary and wages under the Shared Work Program may reduce the amount of the loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program.

Under New York City’s Employee Retention Grant Program , small business in New York City (including nonprofits) that have been in operation for at least six months, with one to four employees that can demonstrate at least a 25% decrease in revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible to receive a grant covering up to 40% of their payroll for two months, for a maximum of up to $27,000. This program was implemented to help New York City businesses retain employees. More information can be found here .

Under New York City’s Small Business Continuity Loan Program , businesses in New York City with fewer than 100 employees that can demonstrate at least a 25% decrease in revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that it has the ability to repay the loan, may be eligible for an interest-free loan up of up to $75,000 to help retain employees and continue business operations. More information can be found here.

*Evolving Regulation and Implementation Procedures

The foregoing is intended as a summary of the various measures enacted within the past few days. The legislation examined above was understandably passed under exigent circumstances. Most, if not all, of the above will be subject to rule-making and interpretation. Therefore, implementation structures, procedures and subsequent regulations may vary from the analysis presented above.

For questions about the foregoing and further developments, please contact us. We also have assembled resources and alerts for COVID-19-related legal issues and considerations on our website under “ News – COVID-19 Guidance .” Please check there for useful information and updates as events evolve.

*Required Disclaimer: This alert is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute, and should not be considered legal advice. Specific facts and circumstances will differ. Neither the transmission nor the receipt of this information shall create an attorney-client relationship between the transmitter and the recipient. You should not take, or refrain from taking, any action based upon information contained in this alert without consulting legal counsel of your own choosing. Under applicable professional rules of conduct, this informational publication may be considered attorney advertising.

FMLA Expansion for Covid-19 Explained

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 17:43:00 GMT

Curious how the expansion of FMLA will affect you or your business? Check out this great video from colleague, Chelsea Whalley of J Donovan Financial.

Families First Coronavirus Response Act Simple Flow Chart

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 14:02:00 GMT

Families First Coronavirus Response Act Simple Flow Chart

Financing and Loan Options to Weather Covid-19 Crisis

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 13:17:00 GMT

Over the past few days, we have been gathering information on financing and loan sources to help companies weather the COVID-19 crisis. Here are some general thoughts and recommendations. We will add to this as more information becomes available.

1. Banks .

Unlike 2008, banks currently have strong balance sheets. Therefore they are potentially well positioned to help businesses with liquidity issues.

First step, call your existing banks and lenders. Your existing banker may be the best option for access to additional credit, to extend or reinstate a line of credit. If you have not already done so, call your banker .
If you have any existing debt, and your business has been impacted by COVID-19, you may be able to defer payments. Most major banks are offering deferrals on debt for 90 days. On March 21, Governor Cuomo issued an Executive Order stating that banks (those subject to the jurisdiction of the NYS Department of Financial Services) must grant a forbearance to any person or business facing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic for 90 days. If they do not, it would be deemed “an unsafe and unsound business practice.”
The bank is going to want a story as to how you plan to come out of this. Put together a plan now.
Here are sites for various banks on the Coronavirus response, numbers to call, etc.:

2. State, local and community loan programs.

NYC has a range of programs: click here
Here is an option for certain NYC neighborhoods: click here
There is also a program for business in Philadelphia: click here
Los Angeles micro loan program: click here

3. Small Business Administration (SBA).

In normal times, SBA loans (including 7(a) and 504 loans) are issued by banks, and the loans are guaranteed by the SBA if the borrower defaults.
An SBA disaster loan is issued directly by the SBA, for counties that are declared disaster zones, which includes all of NYC and most surrounding areas. Here is the site for the SBA disaster loan application. https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ You may want to access the site during off-off hours, it has been slow and down for maintenance. Rates are 3.75%. Disaster loans are capped at $2 million. They cannot be used to acquire fixed assets or to pay back shareholder loans. TBD how long a disaster loan will take to get approved. The SBA is supposedly rolling out a new processing system with a large mortgage processor on Monday, March 30, that will take application time down to 3-5 days. The SBA is also providing daily webinars on how to apply. Check here .
The relief package passed by the Senate on March 25 2020), the CARES Act, includes major modifications to the 7(a) loan program, designed to help small businesses meet their ongoing expenses and keep employees on payroll. The portion of the loan that is used for payroll and debt obligations may be forgiven, subject to reductions if number of employees is reduced compared to last year. Funds used for other purposes must be repaid.
The maximum amount available under this program is the lesser of a) 2.5x the average monthly payroll total; or b) $10 million.
This legislation still needs to go to the House and be signed by the President.
TBD what provisions will be included to support business owners who have a previously issued SBA loan.
There is a provision in the act that provides payment deferment relief on 7(a) loans for a period of not more than one year. TBD how this will play out.
This program will administered through bank lenders, not directly through the SBA. Another reason to call your banker. ‍
Every impacted business owner who thinks they may need to access this program can prepare now by setting up a data room with all of the typical information a bank will need, so that you can quickly provide it to your banker when the program is up and running. Information to pull together should include a description of how their business has been impacted in terms of revenues, current cash position, detail of costs you have been able to or are trying to cut (rent included), detailed schedule of the monthly expenses of the business, payroll information, plus three years business tax returns, 12/31/2019 year end financials, business debt schedule, entity documents, and copies of leases.
You may not be able to get BOTH a disaster loan and a 7(a) loan if they are both to be used for payroll purposes.

‍ 4. Facebook Small Business Grants Program : Facebook is offering $100 million in cash grants and ad credits to businesses experiencing disruptions as a result of COVID-19. The application is not yet live, but you can sign up to receive information here.

5. Factoring. Several factor companies are currently providing accounts receivable and purchase order financing. Although fees will vary, the cost associated with factoring is likely to be significantly higher than most other type of financing. However, you may be able to get financing in 5-7 days, with less paperwork. Find out if you can pick and choose which accounts to sell and which invoices to finance, and if there are minimum size requirements.

Please contact us at info@hughesklaiber.com for any help, updates and introductions to lenders we know and have worked with. Please bear in mind that this information is evolving. Please check with us or your banker for any recent updates and changes to this information.

Practical Information & Resource Guide for You & Your Business during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 17:13:00 GMT

We understand there have been numerous emails out there each day on Covid-19, believe us, we get about 50 a day as of late. Below you’ll find helpful information broken into section topics for what your needs may be during this time. We know we will all get through this, we are New Yorkers and we have seen far worse in our day. Stay safe.

The Combs Crew

Business Interruption:

One thing to understand is that your broker serves in the role as an insurance intermediaries we are not the decision maker, but instead report claims and administer the communication between the carrier and the customer. As brokers, we represent you as the client, not the insurers. We are your advocates and will fight for you, but ultimately the decision rests on the carrier.

We all know this is a very stressful time all Small Businesses across the country and are getting multiple requests a day about coverage of a potential claim for Business Interruption. Unfortunately, the carriers are being very tight lipped on if the Covid-19 would result in a Business Interruption claim being paid until they are able to review all aspects of the policy and claim. We have been suggesting to all of our clients, to go ahead and move forward with a claim if they are able to prove a loss for their business during this time as there is zero chance of recovery if you never put in a claim.

Facts about Business Interruption:

If you have Business Interruption coverage, your policy should list or describe the type of events it covers. Events that are not listed on, or not described in the policy, are typically not covered.
Business Interruption coverage typically can ONLY be triggered if you have a property loss that leads to the business interruption.
Often times there are exclusions for epidemics and pandemics in Business Interruption policies.

Example: You have a fire in your office which has caused you to suspend your business activities, for more information CLICK HERE

Many state and city municipalities are working on Disaster Loan Assistance programs at this time, below you will find that information.

Disaster Loan Assistance:

For Disaster Loan assistance information by state, please CLICK HERE for more information from the SBA. If you are local to NYC, CLICK HERE for local disaster loan assistance.

Please let us know if we can assist in any way during this time and if you are looking for overall general information on potential business impacts and resources, please CLICK HERE for Risk Advisory bulletins from EPIC.

Health Insurance:

For Individuals – NY State of Health and New York State Department of Financial Services Announce Special Enrollment Period for Uninsured New Yorkers, as Novel Coronavirus Cases Climb.

*Remind New Yorkers That There is No Cost Sharing for COVID-19 Testing Across Medicaid, Child Health Plus, Essential Plan, and Qualified Health Plans*

ALBANY, N.Y. (March 16, 2020) – NY State of Health, together with the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), today announced that New York will make a Special Enrollment Period available to New Yorkers during which eligible individuals will be able to enroll in insurance coverage through NY State of Health, New York’s official health plan Marketplace, and directly through insurers. This step is being taken in light of the COVID-19 public health emergency to further protect the public health of New Yorkers. NY State of Health, DFS, and New York State health insurers are taking this action due to the exceptional nature of the public health emergency posed by the COVID-19 so that individuals do not avoid seeking testing or medical care for fear of cost. The open enrollment period for coverage in 2020 had previously ended on February 7, 2020.

Individuals who enroll in Qualified Health Plans through NY State of Health or directly through insurers between March 16 and April 15, 2020 will have coverage effective starting April 1, 2020. Individuals who are eligible for other NY State of Health programs – Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus – can enroll year-round. As always, consumers can apply for coverage through NY State of Health on-line at www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov , by phone at 855-355-5777, and working with enrollment assistors.

If you have any questions or would like more personalized assistance, please reach out to Colleen Blum via email at: cblum@combsandco.com

Workers Compensation:

Workers’ compensation insurance helps employees recover from work-related injuries or illnesses. Every state has its own workers’ compensation insurance laws and regulations that govern the coverage available. To file a workers’ compensation claim, the employee will need to demonstrate that the injury or illness arose both out of and in the course of their employment.

Mental Health Assistance:

Many health insurance carriers are providing Mental Health Assistance at this time. Below is some information on what United / Oxford is doing for their members and in some instances all citizens regardless if they are a member. Please reach out to your health insurance provider to see what services they are providing specifically for you.

Free Emotional Support Help Line

Optum is offering a free emotional support help line for all individuals impacted. Our toll-free emotional support help line at (866) 342-6892 is free of charge and available to anyone, so you can share it with family and friends . Caring professionals will connect people to resources. It will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Additionally, there are several coping and disaster tools and resources available to you on liveandworkwell.com . Log on to liveandworkwell.com with your HealthSafeID. Type the keywords “coping” or “disaster” into the search bar to get support.

Behavioral Health Virtual Visits

Also, as UnitedHealthcare members, you have access to Behavioral Health Virtual Visits where you can access a behavioral health professional through your mobile device, tablet, or computer. Behavioral Health Virtual Visits are a separate benefit from the Virtual Visits with Teledoc, Amwell, and Doc on Demand. For behavioral health, virtual visits are subject to the same out of pocket as an in-office visit (behavioral health outpatient office visit) . Services are delivered by a network provider licensed within your state and may include psychiatrists, psychologists, and other practitioners licensed in behavioral health such as nurse practitioners and master level clinicians. Providers are able to prescribe medications in compliance with federal and other regulatory limitations.

Coronavirus Response Bill, with Required Paid Sick Leave, Enacted into Law:

Action Taken : On March 18, 2020 President Trump signed into law H.R.6201, a $104 billion bill that, among other things, requires small employers (those with fewer than 500 employees) to provide paid sick leave to employees dealing with COVID-19 or with exposure to the coronavirus. Family and medical leave both go into effect April 2 and expire December 31, 2020 .

Expanded FMLA .

1. Who ? The new law applies to all employers with fewer than 500 employees and to employees who have worked for at least 30 days.
2. Reasons for Leave ? An employee may take up to 12 weeks of leave to allow an employee who is unable to work or telework to care for the employee’s child (under 18 years of age) if the child’s school or place of care is closed or the childcare provider is unavailable due to a public health emergency. A public health emergency means an emergency with respect to COVID-19 declared by a federal, state, or local authority.
3. Pay ? Unpaid for the first 10-days after which the employer must pay full-time employees at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate for the number of hours the employee would otherwise be normally scheduled. The pay is limited to $200 per day and $10,000 in the aggregate. Part-time employees pay should be based on the average number of hours the employee worked for prior six months; or, if less than six months, based on the employee’s reasonable expectation at hiring of the average number of hours the employee would be scheduled to work.
4. Job protection ? Employers with 25 + employees have to return the employee to the same or equivalent position upon their return to work. Employers with fewer than 25 employees are excluded from this requirement if the employee’s position is eliminated due to economic conditions or other changes resulting from the public health emergency. Keep in mind, employers must still reasonably attempt to return the employee to an equivalent position and make efforts for the next year to return the employee to work.
5. Exempt ? The law allows small businesses with fewer than 50 employees to seek an exemption from the expanded leave entirely if the required leave would jeopardize the viability of their business.

Paid Sick Leave .

Who ? Employers with fewer than 500 employees; all employees regardless of their tenure
Reasons for Leave ? An employee may take paid sick leave if he/she is unable to work or telework because:

- the employee is subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19;
- a health care provider advised the employee to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19 (self-imposed quarantine does not qualify);

- the employee is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis;

- the employee is caring for an individual who is either subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19 or has been advised to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19;
- the employee is caring for the employee’s child whose school has been closed or place of care is unavailable due to COVID-19 precautions; or
- the employee is experiencing any other substantially similar condition as specified by the government (and to be clarified later).

Pay ? Full-time employees receive 80 hours of paid sick leave; part-time employees receive the equivalent of the number of hours they would work, on average, during a two-week period. Paid sick leave is paid at the employee’s regular rate if for a reason in paragraph (i), (ii), or (iii) above and caped at $511 per day and $5,110 in the aggregate; and two-thirds of an employee’s regular rate if based on reason (iv), (v), or (vi) and capped at $200 per day and $2,000 in the aggregate.
Misc. The leave does not carry over. Employers may not require employees to first use other paid leave before using paid sick leave. Employers can require reasonable notice procedures after the first workday that an employee receives paid sick leave. Employers must post a notice that advises employees of their rights which should be available by March 25.
Exempt? Like the FMLA above, the Act does contain language allowing small business with less than 50 employees to seek an exemption from the requirement.

New York Emergency Paid Sick Leave .

When ? Only in the event of a “mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation issued by the State of New York, the NY Department of Health, a local board of health, or any government entity duly authorized to issue such order due to COVID-19”.
Who ?

- Employers with 10 or fewer employees and a net income less than $1 million must provide unpaid leave (and job protection) for the duration of the quarantine order and guarantee their workers access to Paid Family Leave and disability benefits (short-term disability) for the period of quarantine including wage replacement for their salaries up to $150,000.
- Employers with 11-99 employees and employers with 10 or fewer employees and a net income greater than $1 million will provide at least 5 days of paid sick leave, job protection for the duration of the quarantine order, and guarantee their workers access to Paid Family Leave and disability benefits (short-term disability) for the period of quarantine including wage replacement for their salaries up to $150,000.
- Employers with 100 or more employees, as well as all public employers (regardless of number of employees), will provide at least 14 days of paid sick leave and guarantee job protection for the duration of the quarantine order.

Has to be serious ? These additional benefits are only available to employees who have been officially and formally quarantined or isolated by a local or state government agency; not those who are in voluntary quarantine or isolation, those who merely fear they have been infected, those who object to reporting to work, and those who are placed on leave, layoff, or furlough by an employer. It also does not apply to employees who are asymptomatic but have been quarantined or isolated, those who have not yet been diagnosed with any medical condition, and those who are physically able to work remotely.
Other Changes.

- With regards to NY Paid Family Leave, the definition of “disability” was expanded to include “the inability to do work because of a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine,”; and the definition of “family leave” was expanded to include a) leave taken to comply with a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine; or b) to provide care for the employee’s minor, dependent child who is subject to a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine.

Don’t forget, these are in addition to any current paid leave/medical leave programs applicable to your workforce.

Resources for Families:

We know that many families are struggling to figure out homeschooling at this time while balancing working from home in most cases. We wanted to share this excellent post from the Today Show that provides a wealth of information for your little ones during this time, CLICK HERE for the article “How to homeschool during the coronavirus crisis with free resources”.

Job Resources:

Chameleon Resume is offering free tools to help with job searches. CLICK HERE to access them.

New York & New Jersey has developed a state portals to access jobs that are looking for candidates now during the Covid-19 pandemic.

CLICK HERE to access the New York portal

CLICK HERE to access the New Jersey portal

To Apply for NY State Unemployment, CLICK HERE

To Apply for NJ State Unemployment, CLICK HERE

Carrier Benefits Coronavirus (Covid-19) Chart

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 16:42:00 GMT

Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

As we have been getting several clients that have been reaching out and asking on what would be covered under their health insurance in terms of testing and treatment we wanted to share this helpful chart identifying what the Fully Insured carriers will be doing that our General Agent, Savoy Associates published.

Feel free to reach out with any questions, and remember….WASH YOUR HANDS!

Carrier Benefits Coronavirus Chart

Tribute to my Father

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 14:06:00 GMT

Major General Roger E Combs (February 22, 1945 – August 22, 2018)

Click to view slideshow.

Husband, Father, Grandpa, Brother, Son, Uncle, Friend, Mentor, Servant, General and Judge. He’s gone by so many titles over the years.

He was born on the family farm in rural Stanberry, Missouri on February 22, 1945. He was known for quoting a Senator who said, “When you’re born on a dairy farm, everything else is easy.”

He shared his successes with those he loved, like the incredible experience of his promotion party when he was given his 2 ^nd Star (Major General). He invited all his “circles” – family, church, courthouse, and military. He had a Wikipedia page and hardly anyone in the family or King City knew about it.

This is how he lived. He could talk to anyone. No matter the successes he achieved, he never forgot he was that boy who was born on a farm and attended a one-room schoolhouse. He was the son of H.H. and Ruby Fern.

He was a teacher.

This man taught me, “It’s important for you to be understood, but it’s more important for you to not be misunderstood.” I think one of us kids quotes this weekly.

This man taught me to be independent and have a common knowledge of how to fix some things. Then if all else fails, WD-40 and duct tape will fix almost anything.

This man taught me to parallel park between a horse trailer and a feed truck out on the Mule Shoe Ranch. Living in NYC, this skill has become priceless.

But most importantly, this man taught me there are three major aspects of my life and he basically broke it down to me like this: “You have the person you are with, the place where you live, and the thing you do for a living. If you’re happy with 3 out of 3 then you are living a golden life; but on any given day, if you can be happy in at least 2 of those aspects, you’re doing just fine. But if you’re happy with only one or none, then get off your butt and do something about it. Surround yourself with supportive people who “get” you; to whom you don’t have to explain yourself. Live in a place that excites you and that cultivates who you are and who you want to be. Choose to do something you love because invariably you’ll do it well.” He was a living example of this by showing us a deep love for our mother, passion for his career, and a fondness for his community.

His life was the definition of God, Family, and Country. He had integrity, love, and sheer grit. He loved his family, community, church, courthouse crew, and his brothers and sisters of the armed forces, with whom he served for more than 39 years. The outpouring of stories and notes we have received reinforce the fact that he was not only our hero, but a hero to many. He was the guy who would mentor young officers in the military; he made children feel safe when their home lives were in disarray during custody hearings; he would snow blow downtown King City to make sure the merchants were safe in the winter; he took the time to care when there were no witnesses.

He was a fighter.

Most recognizably as a CH-46 Helicopter pilot for the Purple Foxes in the US Marine Corp and until the very end, as he battled Agent Orange-related throat cancer for the past decade. He never gave up and he never surrendered, until God took mercy on his soul on August 22, 2018.

To say this past year has changed me would be an understatement. He helped make me who I am today. I have been and will always be proud to call him my father and know that he still lives within each of the many lives he touched all over the world. Over the past year of his life, I am so grateful that I was able to take the time, be quick to listen, fierce to love, slower to say yes to everything, and to find the serenity when I could.

You’ll always be in our hearts.

Susan

Insurance 101: What is a Formulary Drug

Mon, 16 Apr 2018 14:18:00 GMT

For more Insurance 101, check our our Combs & Co YouTube Channel !

Wonder Woman Wednesday: What’s the Good News, Ladies?

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 15:12:00 GMT

ShowMe the money: How to charge fees in a commission-based practice

Fri, 06 Apr 2018 13:33:00 GMT

I’ve had a lot of great role models in my life and one of my most incredible ones has been my mother. Like me, she was an entrepreneur. She owned a Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio and a travel agency in my hometown of King City, Missouri. My mom had worked for a number of years in the travel industry with American Airlines and Auto-Train (later sold to Amtrak) in Washington D.C., before relocating to Missouri with my father and working for a small travel agency. She later opened her own, and I remember that she saw a major shift taking place in the industry when the airlines decided that they were no longer going to pay travel agents fees on airline tickets. She made the decision to start charging fees and I remember her telling me, “If you don’t value your time, no one else will.”

Click here to keep reading!

Insurance 101: What is a Flexible Spending Account

Tue, 03 Apr 2018 17:14:00 GMT

Check our our quick video about Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)!

https://youtu.be/642q4EpueYA

For more Insurance 101, check our our Combs & Co YouTube Channel !

Wonder Woman Wednesday: What’s the Good News, Ladies?

Wed, 28 Mar 2018 18:06:00 GMT

Happy Holidays! Man, this year went by quick! We are in the home stretch of open enrollment in our office and we are definitely looking forward to a break, as we have been very busy! It has been so much fun to meet so many wonderful women in our industry this year from around the country and feel inspired by their stories. I’m very happy to share the news of Erika, Grace and Pam as we round out the year, and the remarkable things they have been doing in 2017. Have fun getting to know these exceptional women. I know I did! Click here to read more!

What’s the good news, ladies? March Madness edition

Wed, 21 Mar 2018 18:03:00 GMT

March Madness is upon us! This is one of my favorite times of year! It sounds like bracketology will be interesting this year, as there really aren’t any major standouts, so anyone can be Cinderella at the ball! I’ve been also gearing up for speaking season and looking forward to heading out to Denver to speak at the WIFS / NAIFA event. I will then be heading to San Diego for the BenefitsPRO Broker Expo and I’m looking forward to making some new friends from around the country!

This month, I’m very excited to introduce you to my new friends, Paula, Allison and Cerrina! These women are doing fantastic things in the industry and I’m very happy to have them be part of the WTGNL Crew!

Click here to read about Paula, Allison and Cerrina!

Wonder Woman Wednesday: What’s the Good News, Ladies?

Wed, 14 Mar 2018 11:58:00 GMT

Click to view slideshow.

This is a special edition of “What’s the Good News, Ladies?” because I get to toot my horn a little and highlight some great women! Last month, I mentioned I was getting ready to go to the Women in Insurance & Financial Services (WIFS) National Conference and I’m ecstatic to report that I was awarded the organization’s highest honor: the Woman of the Year award! I was beyond thrilled and honored to be selected by my peers for this prestigious award from an organization that’s mission is to attract, develop and advance women in our industry.

While I was there, I got to meet Christine, Claudia and Kate. These fine women were the three finalists for the WIFS Fast & Furious session, where they are given 45 seconds to share their best business practice that has helped take their business to the next level. Click here to continue reading and to be inspired!

WIFS LeadHER Blog – Finding Your Tribe

Fri, 09 Mar 2018 20:29:00 GMT

Growing up in a town of fewer than 1,000 people in the northwest corner of Missouri I always had a sense of who I was and where I was from. Yet, when I moved to New York City, fresh-faced and fancy free right out of college, the realization that there were more people on my subway train each morning on my way to work than in King City, Missouri was a little daunting at times.

My father encouraged me to “find my tribe” and look up the University of Missouri Alumni Chapter in NYC after getting settled. He explained to me that I would have an instant connection with these people as we had a common bond of the University, and that we would just “get” each other without having to explain a whole lot. And they would also know that Missouri is in the center of the US, something that New Yorkers still seem to have trouble locating when I tell them where I’m from.

Fast forward about five years when I became fully immersed in the insurance and financial services industry, one that I feel has incredible opportunities for women, yet we still hover around 14 percent of the industry. It was very apparent that I needed to find a new “tribe,” one that would just “get” me in this aspect of my life. I found this with WIFS.

Click Here to read the rest of the story!

Charity Profile – Girls Inc

Fri, 29 Dec 2017 15:08:00 GMT

Girls Inc. girls live healthy and active lifestyles and are less likely to engage in risky behavior; they are eager to learn, successful in school, and more likely to graduate from post-secondary education; and they display diligence, perseverance and resilience.

Charity Profile – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Mon, 25 Dec 2017 11:02:00 GMT

During this time of year my family is reminded of the true holiday spirit and what a blessing St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has been to so many through the years.

Happy Holidays!

Susan

Charity Profile – BeadforLife

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 17:48:00 GMT

Combs & Company has been a supporter of BeadforLife for the past 3 years and continues to be fascinated at all they do!

Check out an excerpt from their website as they tell their story best!

“Paper bead jewelry was only the beginning. We could have stayed the course, working with one group of women to create fair trade products that we could sell for them in the U.S. market – but we had bigger dreams. We created an entrepreneurial business training program, giving women living in poverty the skills and confidence they need to go out and create their own local businesses before they graduate. Salons, shoe stores, and produce stands are cropping up in Uganda and women are making money and living out their dreams. Not only do they have income, but now they have the confidence to be sustainable business women – meeting their own needs and creating a generation of confident and capable children.

But we haven’t stopped there. We’ve taken the best parts of that original business program and created The Street Business School . These savvy women don’t make products (for us), they make progress! They are women who have dreamed of running successful businesses, and that’s exactly what they do when they graduate, only six months later! See the impact.

Now we’re taking this proven poverty eradication program to the world! We will partner with organizations around the globe to share our program, so that we can ignite the lives of one million women!”

Click to view slideshow.

Charity Profile – iMentor

Fri, 15 Dec 2017 16:53:00 GMT

Looking to give some love? There’s a lot to love with iMentor !

New York Paid Family Leave – What you Need to Know!

Thu, 14 Dec 2017 13:44:00 GMT

What is it?

As of January 1, 2018, most employees who work in New York State will be eligible for Paid Family Leave. This is leave not for yourself, this is leave to take care of others which include: spouse, domestic partner, child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, in-laws, grandparent or grandchild. This is also available due to Active Military Duty Deployment. They are not including siblings at this time, so keep that in mind.

Who is eligible?

Full-time employees: If you work a regular work schedule of 20 or more hours per week, you are eligible after 26 consecutive weeks of employment.*
Part-time employees: If you work a regular work schedule of less than 20 hours per week, you are eligible after working 175 days, which do not need to be consecutive.*
You are eligible regardless of your citizenship and/or immigration status.

*These weekly counts look back at 2017. What this means is if you have been a full-time employee for 2017 and been working over 20 hours per week for the 26 weeks leading up to January 1, 2018 – you would be eligible to go out on claim January 1, 2018.

How much is taken out of my paycheck?

This is a prorated amount (no more than $1.65 per week) depending on how the company does payroll, but it is basically capped around $85 FOR THE YEAR, so you won’t even notice it coming out of your check! Here is the deductions calculator if you want to know exactly!

How much do I get?

This is going to be a 4-year phase in and you are going to start seeing these acronyms a lot: AWW and SAWW. AWW stands for Average Weekly Wage and SAWW stands for State Average Weekly Wage. The SAWW they are using for 2018 is $1305.92, which translates into the Max Weekly Benefit you can get is $652.96 for 8 weeks.
Here is a grid showing the phase in numbers from state website !

Benefits Increase Through 2021

Example: An employee who makes $1,000 a week would receive a benefit of $500 a week (50% of $1,000). Another employee who makes $2,000 a week would receive a benefit of $652.96, because this employee is capped at one-half of New York State’s Average Weekly Wage —currently $1,305.92. Half of that amount is $652.96.
Leave can be taken either all at once or in full-day increments. You may take the maximum time-off benefit in any given 52-week period. The 52-week clock starts on the first day you take Paid Family Leave.

As an Employee, what do you need to do if you need to go out on claim?

Notify your employer. You need to do this at least 30 days before you want your leave to start (if possible). For example, if you are due with a baby 2/1, you can plan ahead, but if the baby comes 4 weeks early, you need to notify your employer as soon as possible.
Submit a claim form. You’ll need to ask your employer or the employer’s insurance company what forms you should complete and get the supporting documentation that is requested. Make sure to keep a copy for your records. You can actually submit your claim form 30 days before or 30 days after the event and then the carrier has 18 days to respond to your claim.

Click here for the Employee Fact Sheet by New York State!

As an Employer, what do you need to do ?

If you have State Mandated Disability, your carrier will most likely offer the Paid Family Leave coverage. If you haven’t received an email or a letter from your carrier, you need to reach out to them ASAP.
As this is an Employee Paid benefit, Employees will have deductions taken out of their paychecks for this. If your payroll company hasn’t reached out to you about this, check with them before your first January 2018 payroll run.
You also must Post a Workforce Notice, which you should also be getting in the mail from your carrier.
If you currently Self Insure your Disability, here’s a list of carriers that you can get this coverage from!
Update your handbook to include the new policy if you have one!

Click here for the Employer Fact Sheet by New York State!

I know this doesn’t cover absolutely everything you might have a question on, but if you read and understand this, you’ll be more equipped than 99% of New Yorkers out there!

Charity Profile – Operation Homefront

Fri, 08 Dec 2017 19:12:00 GMT

Looking to spread some holiday cheer? Consider Operation Homefront !

Charity Profile: Puppies Behind Bars

Tue, 05 Dec 2017 14:23:00 GMT

Looking to give some support this holiday season? Check them out!

Saying “yes” to you

Mon, 04 Dec 2017 15:41:00 GMT

If you remember, my last blog post on the Women’s Insurance Network was about the art of saying “no.” Funny enough, I heard Oprah on “CBS This Morning” about a week after it came out. She hit the nail right on the head for me when she said, “The answer ‘No’ is a full sentence.”

As I sat on my umpteenth flight for 2017, I started reflecting on the things in my life I have chosen to say “yes” to that give me personal satisfaction. That’s one thing I love about the women I have met in our industry (as well as many men): we are givers. We’ll hand you our playbook, the budget and the strategy that built our businesses. So, after telling you all about saying “no” the last time, I wanted to tell you my “Seven Silos” of saying “yes.” These are things that I do that help me to be a better me, not only to my family and business, but a better me to me.

Click here to read all about my Seven Silos!

What are Exclusive Provider Organizations (EPOs)?

Mon, 06 Nov 2017 17:16:00 GMT

Check our our quick video about Exclusive Provider Organizations (EPOs)!

For more Insurance 101, check our our Combs & Co YouTube Channel !

What are Exclusions?

Thu, 26 Oct 2017 15:12:00 GMT

Check our our quick video about what Exclusions are in an insurance policy!

For more Insurance 101, check our our Combs & Co YouTube Channel !

What’s the good news, ladies? October edition

Mon, 23 Oct 2017 15:05:00 GMT

Fourth quarter is here and open Enrollment is upon us! Who’s ready? Can’t ever say our industry is boring, can we? I’m gearing up to attend the Women in Insurance & Financial Services (WIFS) National Conference next week in Minneapolis and excited to meet a bunch of Wonder Women there! This month, I’m happy to introduce you to three women that I know will be killin’ it in the fourth quarter! Click HERE to be in awe as you meet Rachel, Michelle and Rachel!

Can I get a “No?!”

Fri, 20 Oct 2017 12:54:00 GMT

When I served as National President of Women in Insurance & Financial Services (WIFS), my predecessor, Angie Shay , programmed us all so that when a decision was to be made that would impact the organization, if it didn’t engage members or generate revenue, then we shouldn’t be doing it. This made decisions very black and white and easy to move initiatives forward.

Click Here to continue reading!

What are Essential Health Benefits?

Fri, 18 Aug 2017 14:22:00 GMT

When the ACA (Affordable Care Act) became law, we were introduced to many new terms. Check our our quick video about Essential Health Benefits!

For more Insurance 101, check our our Combs & Co YouTube Channel !

Growing the female broker force

Tue, 15 Aug 2017 13:17:00 GMT

For over a decade, Susan L. Combs, partner at The Capacity Group , an EPIC company , has been a leading example in the employee benefits market. From serving as the youngest national president of Women in Insurance & Financial Services in the 81 year history of the organization, to helping forge the national advocacy relationship between WIFS and NAIFA, Combs continues to push her achievements forward—including being selected as one of EBA’s 2017 Most Influential Women in Benefit Advising .

To select this year’s honorees, EBA editors asked readers to submit the names of thought leaders who are making their mark on the benefit business through their unique approaches to client relations, benefits technology and/or mentoring other women. From the dozens of submissions received, the editors chose 30 benefit advisers to recognize for their outstanding achievements.

Click here to read the full article on the Employee Benefit Advisor website!

What’s the good news, Ladies? August Edition

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 13:36:00 GMT

Since open enrollment will soon be upon us again, I hope you have all had some R&R time to unplug yourselves and your business. I find it is so important to recharge and come back to work with a fresh mindset! This month, I’m excited to introduce you to three women I admire and have had the pleasure of working with either through associations or my practice. Click here to feel inspired as you meet Brittany, Denise and Susan!

What is an Evidence of Insurability?

Fri, 04 Aug 2017 14:16:00 GMT

Check our our quick video about Evidence of Insurability!

For more Insurance 101, check our our Combs & Co YouTube Channel !

What’s the good news, ladies? Happy anniversary edition!

Fri, 28 Jul 2017 14:08:00 GMT

Happy anniversary, ladies! This month’s column marks our one year anniversary of this series! I can’t believe how fast it has gone!

I’m happy to report that my sister-in-law gave birth to a 7lb 1oz baby girl named Josephine on June 19 ^th , and we are all so in love with the new addition to our family! I’m already educating her on insurance and financial services and planting the seed of succession early.

This month, you’ll get to meet some great women from different corners of the U.S. Click Here to feel inspired as you meet Alice, Kristin and Laurie!

What’s the Good News, Ladies? June Edition

Fri, 09 Jun 2017 12:29:00 GMT

The year is flying by! I can’t believe it’s already June, and I’m super excited because my brother and sister-in-law are going to be welcoming my new niece into the world in a few short weeks. Maybe I can get her into the industry early! This project has been hugely rewarding for me as a way to spread the good news about women in our industry and the incredible things they are doing! This month, you’ll get to meet some great women who were introduced to me by other great women. I’m sure you’ll have fun getting to know Sheryl, Ande and Stacey a little better. I know I did!

Click Here to read all about these fantastic women!

Insurance 101: Employer Responsibility

Tue, 30 May 2017 13:48:00 GMT

Check our our quick video about Employer Responsibility!

For more Insurance 101, check our our Combs & Co YouTube Channel !

Insurance 101: What is an Enrollment?

Fri, 19 May 2017 15:45:00 GMT

Check our our quick video on what is an Enrollment is!

For more Insurance 101, check our our Combs & Co YouTube Channel !

What is an Employee Census?

Wed, 10 May 2017 13:40:00 GMT

Check our our quick video on what is an Employee Census!

For more Insurance 101, check our our Combs & Co YouTube Channel !

Feature Friday: What’s the good news, ladies? May Edition!

Fri, 05 May 2017 11:19:00 GMT

So, first things first …I won! I’m still in shock over winning the BenefitsPRO Broker of the Year Award ! This was the award that I told you about last month. Internally, they call it the BOY Award, so it was extra gratifying for this GIRL to take the crown! The BenefitsPRO BrokerExpo conference in Indianapolis was incredible, and I was honored to be recognized by my peers in the industry — truly a highlight in my career thus far.

This month, I’m excited to introduce you to Cornelia, Joan and ShirleyAnn. Cornelia has been a longtime advocate for our industry and for women as well, and I feel very fortunate that I met her through her national involvement in WIFS . Joan has made a huge impact on my career by showing me the value of education and how crucial is is in our industry. She is my go-to resource for anything concerning our industry’s legislative landscape. And finally, ShirleyAnn. I don’t even know where to begin — to know ShirleyAnn is to experience her. She has an exuberance that just makes you want to strive for greatness in our industry. I am honored to introduce you to these incredible women, and I know you’ll enjoy getting to know them a little better and hearing about the great things they are doing in our industry!

Click here to read all about Cornelia, Joan and ShirleyAnn!

Feature Friday: Susan L. Combs wins Broker of the Year

Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:18:00 GMT

Click here for original post!

Thank You…

Fri, 14 Apr 2017 11:47:00 GMT

What a whirlwind the past few days have been! I traveled to Indianapolis to attend the BrokerExpo put on by BenefitsPro Magazine. In true traveling fashion, I hit a Diner’s Drive-Ins & Dives place for dinner called Tamale Place that was awesome! The next morning I hit Orangetheory with my good friend David Contorno and then headed to the session where I was a part of the panel of the 5 finalist for the Broker of the Year! At the end of the session they announced the winner and I was excited, shocked, humbled and in awe that I was selected as the 2017 Broker of the Year .

The outpouring of love I’ve received has been overwhelming, to say the least, I truly appreciate all that have reached out. There is no possible way for me to thank everyone personally for the texts, calls, emails, comments on social media, re-posts, shout outs and shares that have been given on my behalf but I will always be eternally grateful. To my family, my friends, my work family ( Combs & Co , Capacity / EPIC and Savoy ), my association family ( WIFS , NAHU , NAIFA and Mizzou ), my clients, my mentees, my mentors, my King City Crew, my industry peers and most of all my incredible husband – you have helped me to become the person I am today, thank you for believing in me more than I believe in myself sometimes.

Over the past couple of days, a JFK quote kept popping into my head, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” I hope I continue to live my life so that you all know how truly grateful I am for the love and support that you all have shown me and continue to pay it forward for others.

— Susan

What is an Effective Date?

Thu, 13 Apr 2017 13:27:00 GMT

Check our our quick video on what is an Effective Date!

For more Insurance 101, check our our Combs & Co YouTube Channel !

What’s the good news, ladies? April edition

Fri, 07 Apr 2017 21:50:00 GMT

Who’s ready to write out tax checks? Can you believe we are already through the first quarter of 2017? There’s a couple items of business I want to hit on this month. Since you know this is all about recognizing women in our industry, I thought I’d give you a few ideas. WIFS and NAHU have great awards programs for their members to help get you recognized for the hard work you did last year. WIFS’s program is called Circle of Excellence and NAHU’s program is called LPRT . Check them out and start collecting some well-deserved bling!

This month, I’m going to introduce you to Heidi, Kristen and Kim. I have known Heidi for 10+ years, and she is the reason I became a part of WIFS, which parlayed me into being their National President a couple years ago! Miss Kristen will be speaking on the What’s the Good News, Ladies panel at the BenefitsPRO BrokerExpo conference in Indianapolis this month! And finally, Kim and I connected when she recognized one of the women featured in this series! Click here to read more and be inspired!

What are Covered Services?

Tue, 04 Apr 2017 16:37:00 GMT

Check out our short video on what are covered services!

For more Insurance 101 videos check out our Combs & Co Youtube channel !

What is a Deposit Premium?

Thu, 30 Mar 2017 14:20:00 GMT

Check out our short video on what is a deposit premium!

For more Insurance 101 videos check out our Combs & Co Youtube channel !

Who is a Dependent?

Tue, 21 Mar 2017 15:16:00 GMT

Check out our quick video on who a dependent is!

More videos where this came from… Check out the Combs & Co YouTube channel for more!

What’s the good news, ladies? Mentorship!

Thu, 16 Mar 2017 14:40:00 GMT

Very excited to share this month’s installment of “What’s the Good News, Ladies?” This month you get to meet three women who are very near and dear to my heart. These are three women that I have had the pleasure of mentoring in my career, and I would have never met them if it wasn’t through the opportunities I received in volunteer leadership in serving on the National Board of Directors for Women in Insurance & Financial Services (WIFS).

I have always felt passionately about mentorship — no one in this industry got to where they are today without the assistance of someone looking behind and helping to pull them up. I continue to have amazing mentors and advocates in my career, and I have chosen to pay it forward by mentoring others.

Click here to let me introduce you to Mary, Krystyl and Ashleigh, three bright stars that I am happy to call mentees, colleagues and most of all friends!

What does Contributory Mean?

Thu, 23 Feb 2017 17:55:00 GMT

Check out our quick video on what contributory means!

More videos where this came from… Check out the Combs & Co YouTube channel for more!

What are Covered Medical Expenses?

Tue, 14 Feb 2017 13:53:00 GMT

Check out our quick video on what are covered medical expenses!

More videos where this came from… Check out the Combs & Co YouTube channel for more!

What’s the good news, ladies? February edition.

Fri, 10 Feb 2017 19:33:00 GMT

Click Here to read about these incredible women!

What is a Conversion?

Thu, 02 Feb 2017 16:51:00 GMT

Check out our quick video on What a Conversion is!

More videos where this came from… Check out the Combs & Co YouTube channel for more!

What’s the good news, ladies? January edition.

Mon, 30 Jan 2017 16:33:00 GMT

Happy New Year! I can’t believe that January is almost over! I’m excited to kick off this year with some incredible stories from accomplished women in our industry that are sure to inspire you as they have me. I’m looking forward to sharing some amazing stories with you this year and happy to kick off the year by introducing you to my friends Jessica, Kathleen and Susan. Click Here to read all about them!

What is a Cost-Sharing Subsidy?

Tue, 24 Jan 2017 13:48:00 GMT

Check out our quick video on What a Cost-Sharing Subsidy is!

More videos where this came from… Check out the Combs & Co YouTube channel for more!

What is COBRA?

Tue, 03 Jan 2017 16:29:00 GMT

Check out our quick video on What COBRA is!

More videos where this came from… Check out the Combs & Co YouTube channel for more!

Happy Holidays from the Combs Crew!

Fri, 30 Dec 2016 21:00:00 GMT

Feature Friday with Bideawee!

Fri, 30 Dec 2016 19:25:00 GMT

In lieu of holiday gifts and cards to our clients and colleagues we choose to support charities that have touched one of our Crew Member’s hearts. Please read about our second Holiday Feature Friday where we honor Bideawee !

Feature Friday with Hearts of Gold!

Fri, 23 Dec 2016 19:22:00 GMT

Hearts of Gold!

What is Comprehensive Major Medical?

Thu, 22 Dec 2016 15:27:00 GMT

Check out our quick video on What Comprehensive Major Medical is!

More videos where this came from… Check out the Combs & Co YouTube channel for more!

Feature Friday with IAVA!

Wed, 21 Dec 2016 23:18:00 GMT

Feature Friday with WhyNotCare!

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 21:30:00 GMT

Feature Friday with BeadforLife!

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 15:50:00 GMT

In lieu of holiday gifts and cards to our clients and colleagues we choose to support charities that have touched one of our Crew Member’s hearts. Please read about our first Holiday Feature Friday where we honor BeadforLife !

What is a Certificate of Insurance?

Thu, 01 Dec 2016 14:19:00 GMT

Check out our quick video on What a Certificate of Insurance is!

More videos where this came from… Check out the Combs & Co YouTube channel for more!

We have a lot to be thankful for…

Thu, 24 Nov 2016 13:00:00 GMT

As the year is quickly coming to a close I am so thankful for our Combs & Company friends, colleagues, clients and employees that have helped make this a banner year.

We wish you all the very best on this Thanksgiving and hope you are celebrating in style!

The Combs Crew

Susan, Jennifer, Colleen, Sean, Ricarte, Brent, Carol, Tish, Anthony, Dawn and Valerie

What is Census Data?

Tue, 22 Nov 2016 19:00:00 GMT

Check out our quick video on What Census Data is!

More videos where this came from… Check out the Combs & Co YouTube channel for more!

What is a Certificate Holder vs. a Carrier?

Thu, 10 Nov 2016 19:00:00 GMT

Check out our quick video on What is a Certificate Holder vs. a Carrier!

More videos where this came from… Check out the Combs & Co YouTube channel for more!

What’s the good news, ladies? What we’re thankful for.

Tue, 08 Nov 2016 21:14:00 GMT

I know many of us are working hard to close out the year with a bang! I continue to get some amazing emails from women who are sharing their good news with me; you are all truly inspiring to me!

So let’s get to it, shall we? This month, you’re going to hear about a couple of colleagues I have known for a number of years and a couple of ladies who were recommended to me after their friends read about other women in this series and wanted to help them toot their own horns!

Click Here to read about Sally, Angela, Sally and Colleen!

What is a Calendar Plan?

Thu, 03 Nov 2016 05:30:00 GMT

Check out our quick video on What is a Calendar Plan!

More videos where this came from… Check out the Combs & Co YouTube channel for more!

What is a Booklet or Certificate?

Tue, 18 Oct 2016 13:12:00 GMT

Check out our quick video on What is a Booklet or Certificate!

More videos where this came from… Check out the Combs & Co YouTube channel for more!

What’s the good news, ladies? Even more women changing the industry.

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 18:00:00 GMT

For our third installment highlighting women who are changing our industry, I’m going to introduce three more three amazing ladies. These three are rock star recruiters from Guardian, MassMutual and Penn Mutual.

(Be sure to read our first and second installment of the series.)

I met each of these women by being part of organizations like WIFS , NAIFA and GAMA . I’ve found that when you connect with women who are involved with industry organizations, they mean business and are always looking to develop themselves and the people around them.

Click Here to see what Samantha, Cheryl and Evelyn are up to this year!

Who is a Beneficiary?

Wed, 28 Sep 2016 15:25:00 GMT

Check out our quick video on Who is a Beneficiary!

More videos where this came from… Check out the Combs & Co YouTube channel for more!

What are Benefits?

Thu, 22 Sep 2016 13:57:00 GMT

Check out our quick video on What Benefits Are!

More videos where this came from… Check out the Combs & Co YouTube channel for more!

What is a Base Plan?

Tue, 13 Sep 2016 20:07:00 GMT

Check out our quick video on what a Base Plan is!

More videos where this came from… Check out the Combs & Co YouTube channel for more!

More women who are changing the insurance industry.

Fri, 02 Sep 2016 13:34:00 GMT

I’ve enjoyed all the positive feedback on this new series, “ What’s the good news, ladies? Women who are changing the industry .” It really has been fun! For our second installment, I wanted you to hear from four women who come to the industry from entirely different backgrounds.

Juli McNeely, who took over her father’s practice and helped bring it to the next level; Kristin Alfheim, an award-winning financial advisor who runs a successful practice in Green Bay; Meghan Wilke, who took her production experience to the home office level for Mutual of Omaha; and Julie Yunker, who is thriving under a big transition that happened earlier this year with MetLife.

Now sit back, relax and get ready to be inspired by some astounding and accomplished women as they share some of their high points from this year.

Click Here to read all about these amazing women!

What’s the good news, ladies? Women who are changing the industry.

Fri, 05 Aug 2016 14:42:00 GMT

According to Viner, “Our industry struggles to recruit women into sales roles, but the issue is much broader than us. The study provides a clearer picture of how to position a career in sales as a satisfying and successful venture for those who are interested in a new opportunity. We now have a roadmap showing how to best highlight career benefits to women and address concerns they may have. We need to start sharing that message with young women and girls as well as experienced women looking for their next career move.”

I get excited any time I hear of a company working on a new strategy to get more women into the industry. I often hear that women in our industry account for about 14 percent of the production positions, and the percentage is even smaller in management roles. But I feel like we’re on the brink of something big here. Over the next several months, you are going to be wowed over and over again with a new series called “What’s the good news, ladies?” I know I have some amazing rock star women in my life who are getting it done, so I reached out to some of them to share with you some of their high points from this year. Buckle up and Click Here to read all about them!

The Best Way to Prospect

Tue, 28 Jun 2016 19:12:00 GMT

So I have the pleasure of writing for the Succession Initiative for LifeHealthPro and they come to me with questions from their readers and I get to respond to them! Here is the latest one:

The Challenge…

How can I make appointments effectively?

Meeting The Challenge…

Hi Terry,

First off, I basically equate that to a mother not teaching her son how to cook and do laundry because she knows he’ll find a wife to do it for him! Learning how to prospect is a life skill in sales. You have to get it down pat in order to be successful in this career. Being handed leads are the reward after you have proven yourself, you know?

OK … now to get off of my soapbox and offer a solution.

Network.

Network with everyone and anyone if you are starting out. Book lunches, coffees and drinks with other salespeople and business professionals in different fields. Get your elevator pitch down and be specific about who you want to be introduced to that are good lead sources for you (CPAs, attorneys, etc.) Be specific about your ideal client, too; if you say “business owners,” they are going to hear Charlie Brown’s parents talking and you’ll go nowhere. Click here to read more!

Advice to a new millennial broker: dream big, do moreBy Susan L. Combs

Thu, 07 Apr 2016 15:00:00 GMT

Dear New Millennial Broker,

So you know I love to give advice by now, right? I recently spoke at Baruch College, a business school in NYC where I serve as a mentor. I didn’t go to school there — I mentor there because the students inspire me.

The theme for the night was: Dream Big, Do More.

How powerful!

I find we so often start thinking about how to improve ourselves or start off the New Year right, but oftentimes we forget to go back to the basics of what got us to where we are today. Dream big, do more. To learn more click here .

The Story Exchange

Wed, 02 Mar 2016 18:45:00 GMT

The Story Exchange is a nonprofit media organization dedicated to telling the personal and professional stories of women business owners. They showcase the often-overlooked entrepreneurial women around the world who are contributing to their communities and collectively making an impact on the global economy. As an independent 501(c)(3) digital initiative, they aim to provide role models to other women who are pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams. To learn more about The Story Exchange click here ! If you would like to visit Susan Combs’s Story Exchange page please click here !

Start. Stop. Continue. By Susan L. Combs

Mon, 01 Feb 2016 18:24:00 GMT

I was supposed to be heading back from Atlanta today, but Snowmageddon had a different idea of me and I was unable to leave NYC after about 30 inches of snow fell in my neighborhood. So I did the next best thing as a Millennial/Gen X-cusper and Skyped in for a two-day board meeting for WIFS , the national organization where I currently serve as the Immediate Past President. My biggest takeaway was the concept of Start Stop Continue, which was introduced to me by leadership coach, Whitney Siavelis .

Such a simple thing really, but I think will be tremendous in both my practice and my board work and I wanted to share it with you! It’s a way to be more intentional with what you are doing and realize what is working and what isn’t. Click here to continue reading.

So what’s my penalty if I don’t enroll?

Thu, 28 Jan 2016 16:44:00 GMT

So we are in the home stretch! Three more days to go and then Open Enrollment ends for 2016. From experience, I have learned that many people wait until the last minute to pick a plan and some people just continue to bury their heads in the sand. So for those of you that are wondering, how much it’s going to cost you if you don’t get your act together, take a look at this user friendly graphic that will show you what to expect!

2016 DEADLINES – ACA IRS HEALTH COVERAGE INFORMATION REPORTING FOR ALEs

Thu, 14 Jan 2016 20:47:00 GMT

WHO? . . . ALEs must report.
For 2015 information reporting requirements, an Applicable Large Employer (ALE) is subject to the Affordable Care Act health coverage information reporting requirements. For more information on Employer Shared Responsibility and which employers are required to offer coverage, contact our office.
Please note that this applies to:
• Employers who had 50 or more full-time employees, including full-time equivalent employees, in 2014
• Governmental, tribal, tax-exempt, or for-profit employers
• ALEs-whether or not the employers offered health coverage to employees

WHAT? . . . IRS reporting is required for health coverage information.
An ALE must file information returns with the IRS and provide statements to each employee who was a full-time employee for at least one month of the year about health coverage. The employer is required to indicate if they offered health coverage or did not offer health coverage.

WHICH FORMS? . . . Forms 1094-C and 1095-C must be submitted to the IRS.
• Form 1094-C. Transmittal of Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage Information Return is used to report to the IRS summary information for each employer and to transmit Form 1095-C to the IRS.
• Form 1095-C. Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage, is used to report required information to your employees and to report information about each employee to the IRS.

WHEN? . . . Prepare now for the upcoming due dates.
• Forms 1095-C must be provided to your employees by March 31, 2016.
• Forms 1094-C and 1095-C are due to the IRS by May 31, 2016, if filing by paper, or June 30, 2016, if filing electronically.

NEED HELP?
Contact us immediately for a solution that fits your unique filing needs.

Happy New Year From Combs & Co!

Wed, 30 Dec 2015 17:11:00 GMT

Click here to check out our special New Year’s video message from Combs & Co!

Wed, 30 Dec 2015 02:11:00 GMT

The deadline for employers to electronically file 1094 forms for 2015 was extended by three months from March 31, 2016, to June 30, 2016. The deadline for filing by paper was also extended by three months from February 29, 2016, to May 31, 2016. Additionally, the deadline for providing employees with 1095 forms for 2015 was extended from February 1, 2016, to March 31, 2016.

Click here for today’s IRS announcement or for background about the mandated ACA coverage reports.

Happy Holidays from Combs & Co!

Tue, 22 Dec 2015 22:35:00 GMT

This year, in lieu of gifts and cards, Combs & Company is donating to

BeadforLife in our clients’ honor .

Combs & Co. has been a longtime supporter of BeadforLife – a nonprofit that works with women living in poverty to provide them with skills that enable them to become successful, savvy, and sustainable entrepreneurs. For over ten years, BeadforLife has trained women through their Beads to Business program – an 18-month course that teaches women how to make beaded jewelry out of paper, which they sell to earn capital to start businesses in their local markets. Since BeadforLife began, they have facilitated the creation of nearly 3,000 businesses, helping more than 40,000 people through the women and their families!

With help from supporters like Combs & Co., BeadforLife has already completed a rapid prototyping by training other women’s organizations on how to incorporate the Street Business School (SBS) model into their programs. These organizations provide SBS training to women in their own communities and help them become successful entrepreneurs! To expand globally, and ultimately reach their goal of having one million women trained in the SBS program by 2027, BeadforLife started the Ignite One Million campaign.

In November, Combs and Co. made a significant contribution to this campaign and unlocked a matching gift – making an investment worth $20,000! This money will help BeadforLife train more organizations around the world and evaluate their effectiveness to create the best plan to ignite the potential of one million women!

If you would like to join Combs & Co. in supporting BeadforLife’s efforts, and possibly have your own gift matched, please visit www.beadforlife.org/ignite

For more information about this wonderful organization visit BeadforLife at www.beadforlife.org

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

The Combs & Company Crew

Susan, Rachel, Jennifer, Colleen, Yahaira, Chris,

Anthony, Carol, Tish, Valerie & Hayley

Farewell to the Co-Ops By Susan L. Combs

Mon, 14 Dec 2015 18:47:00 GMT

Talk about a cluster! If you are in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee or (insert state that has probably been added in the past hour) I am feeling your pain over the co-op shutdown.

In New York, we were under the impression we had until 1/1 to secure coverage for our clients, only to get an email around 4pm on Friday, October 30th that Health Republic of New York was being shut down as of 11/30 by the state of New York. As if it wasn’t busy enough during open enrollment! To add insult to injury, guess who hasn’t been paid by the co-ops since September? How we all love to work for free! Click here to continue reading.

My Advice to Women Looking for a Career in Financial Services

Wed, 25 Nov 2015 23:05:00 GMT

No doubt about it, financial services is a great career for women. As the current president of Women in Insurance & Financial Services (WIFS), I ought to know. Founded in 1936, WIFS is the only organization for women, by women, in the insurance and financial services industry. Our core mission is about attracting, developing and advancing women in this career.

My work with WIFS has connected me with women from all across the country. Some of them are veterans who have become extremely successful, while others are just getting started. I often get asked for advice on how women can be successful in this industry. Click here for my top tips to women considering a career in financial services.

Who’s your Backup? By: Colleen Blum

Tue, 03 Nov 2015 17:39:00 GMT

Picture this: The Giants are playing the Eagles on Monday night football. Going into halftime, the Giants are up by 1. The Giants come back from the locker room to take the field but a key element is missing…their Quarterback.

Think about it, how do you think this is going to go down with the Giants missing Eli Manning? Sure they may be able to throw in the backup, but they have spent countless hours training, preparing and molding their team to work around Manning and his skills. What if he was permanently out of the picture (sorry Eli)?

What if this was your business? Most companies have at least one Key Person they rely on, whether it is you, the owner or maybe even an employee that holds the Quarterback position. How many “eggs” does that Key Person hold in his or her hypothetical basket? If they died or placed on the “injured reserve list” would that mean the death of your company? Do you have a backup Quarterback in place and a game plan for the “what if” in your business?

So let’s break it down.

For a successful company, a Key Person Insurance policy is a critical business decision to have in your Playbook. Here are the need to know basic facts to start the game plan:

Who is it for? The business will take an insurance policy out on the Key Employee(s) they believe bring the most value. This type of policy protects the company from the loss of a key employee.

How does it work? If that key person pre-deceases the benefit gets paid to the company for the business to do what is necessary to keep the doors open.

What is the money used for? The benefit can be used for multiple things. One example, a key employee generally is one of the most valuable people to the business. Without that one employee, the business will lose the income the key person would typically bring in. The benefit can be used to supplement that money for the company until they find another qualified replacement to take the position.

How much is needed? This will vary upon company. The first question that should be asked, how much do you think that key person is worth for the past year? You can use that as a starting point.

How do I know which policy to look at? Focus on your budget, protection does not have to be expensive it just has to work when it’s needed.

What if the Key Person that we insure leaves the company? Let’s face it, we live in a world where people no longer stay with companies for 25+ years and retire. When looking into policies makes sure there is flexibility to make the changes you need as your circumstances change.

The goal of a Key Person policy is to protect your most valuable asset: Your Company’s potential to grow. Without Eli Manning, the Giants may have the potential to win the Super Bowl but they need to have their “what if” backup plan if the need to pick up a free agent midseason.

What’s your company’s backup plan?

Royals are the 2015 World Series Champs!!!

Mon, 02 Nov 2015 06:31:00 GMT

I was 6 years old the last time the Royals won the World Series. I’ll never forget jumping up and down and cheering in the living room in our house in King City, Missouri and watching the 1985 team. If you aren’t a sports fan, you can’t understand the sheer pride and joy we are all feeling right now. When Davis got the last out I called my brother with tears streaming down my face to share the moment with him. I may live in New York City now, but I’ll never forget where I’m from. Congrats to the Kansas City Royals on an amazing season and reclaiming the crown. Take it all in boys!

Quit complaining about PPACA and get creative

Wed, 21 Oct 2015 17:09:00 GMT

I have been traveling and speaking at many conferences this past year and often attend seminars on PPACA. The thing that perplexes me is how my colleagues who are spending thousands of dollars to attend these conferences are still bitching about it. Get over it people… If you are still going to church and lighting […]

Decoding the millennials

Thu, 24 Sep 2015 14:15:00 GMT

So I recently spoke at the Mutual of Omaha National Sales Symposium in Omaha, Nebraska and one of their keynotes was Jason Dorsey. If you’ve never heard him speak, he’s high energy and a lot of fun. He’s basically the “magic decoder ring” when it comes to figuring out millennials .

I’ve always thought that I just missed this generation, but I was informed that Jason is almost exactly a year older than me … and I was annoyed to learn that at age 36, I’m part of this group. He also enlightened me with the knowledge that most Gen Yers feel like they are special and don’t belong in this group. Ho hum…

Click here for some of the key takeaways from his talk that really gave me some “aha” moments.

Move fast or get outta the way!

Mon, 17 Aug 2015 13:23:00 GMT

As many of you know, I live in NYC. But I’m from a town of about 1,000 people called King City, in the Northwest corner of Missouri, or what I refer to as “God’s Country.” I get emailed, texted and Facebook messaged monthly from people asking for suggestions on what to do on their NYC vacation. I have a great list I have compiled over the years that I send, and I also send this video . It’s from my pal, Johnny T, advising you that there are two speeds in New York: A) You move fast or B) Get outta the way!

I think this is also true for our industry. Let’s face it, it’s been a rough couple of years, but if you are reading this, then you are still standing! How are you adapting ? How are you evolving? Here are some things we are doing to stay relevant:

The millennials are invading : So, I’ve hired a rock star producer that is 25 and speaks their language. For millennials , mentoring and feeling imporant is huge. I encourage you to start looking for your successor!

To pick up at #2…. Click Here !

3 ways to Brand Yourself in the Market

Tue, 11 Aug 2015 13:30:00 GMT

Ok, so one thing I’m really good at is branding , connecting and getting the word out so I thought I’d share a few tips of things I use frequently:

1. Announcement postcards. In this day and age of email marketing, I have found that people miss getting mail. Have you done something amazing? Have you received an award? Tell people! It’s easy and cheap to do a quick postcard through companies like Vistaprint, where you can get 500 postcards for way under $100. When I became national president of WIFS ( www.wifsnational.org ), I send out a postcard to clients and referral sources thanking them for supporting me through my journey and it turned into referrals .

To pick up at #2, click here !

Know your trigger….

Mon, 20 Apr 2015 13:00:00 GMT

I just had my third conversation in two months on tone checking, so I figured this was something other people struggle with, too, and should offer up some friendly advice: If you don’t have a “tone checker” in your life, get one, hell, get five.

Last time I checked, you cannot read tone in email. Wouldn’t it be beautiful if when someone sent an email you read it the exact way they intended it to be? One of the things I suggest to many people in communicating is that you get a tone checker. I have many people who do this for me. For more Click Here!

Beware of Dabblers

Fri, 10 Apr 2015 18:55:00 GMT

One of the biggest pains of this industry right now is the people who think they know what they’re talking about, but they know enough to be dangerous….very dangerous. These are people I call “dabblers.”

Dabblers can come in many forms: Financial planners who are licensed to do health insurance, CPAs and your in-laws who forward you every BS email chain in the world about Obamacare!

What can you do with all this misinformation surrounding you at every turn? Become their resource and turn them into a referral partner. For More Click Here!

Our Latest Blog Post for Broker Innovative Lab: Getting Creative

Mon, 23 Mar 2015 11:00:00 GMT

So when PPACA started coming down the pike and some brokers started jumping ship for fear of falling commissions, I started thinking: How are there ways to make more cash with little cost?

So here are some things I did:

I expanded my knowledge base. Many financial advisors have a few letters after their names and I decided I wanted some, too! So I got the PPACA designation through the National Association of Health Underwriters. This has opened a lot of doors for me. Which in turn has allowed me to come in as a consultant and do PPACA audits for companies AND for brokers who felt like it was a little above their paygrade (and yes, my E&O carrier covers it). By doing this alone, this is now 11 percent of my revenue, and that’s not splitting anything with anyone, its cash in my pocket! Click Here For More!

Our Latest Blog Post for Broker Innovative Lab: Blue January

Wed, 07 Jan 2015 19:41:00 GMT

I’m not sure about you, but for open enrollment this year I averaged between 65 to 70 hours per week. It was a nice reduction from last year’s 80-hour weeks!

But one thing I’m struggling with right now is that after all the chaos and hustle and bustle of December, January has got me off to a little bit of a deflated start.

This “Blue January,” as I’m calling it, doesn’t seem to be affecting just me. I’ve talked to several other brokers who are feeling it, too. We absolutely killed ourselves over the past couple of months, and it seems as though the sense of urgency and the sheer panic in the voices of clients calling to get coverage have fallen away. Click Here for More!

WOMEN IN INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES ELECTS 2014-15 OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Fri, 07 Nov 2014 16:16:00 GMT

ALBANY, NY (11/06/2014)(readMedia)– At the 2014 Annual Conference held in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Women in Insurance & Financial Services elected its 2014-2015 Slate of Officers and Directors.

Named to the board were:

• Presiden t – Susan Combs (Combs & Company) of New York, NY

• President-Elect – Susan Glass (New York Life) of Atlanta, GA

• Secretary – Evelyn Gellar (Empire Wealth Strategies, an agency of Penn Mutual) of West Islip, NY

• Treasurer – Lisa Lettenmaier (Health Source NW) of Tigarrd, OR

• Immediate Past President – Angelia Shay (New York Life, Path Strategies) of Ashland, VA

Directors

• Stacia DeWitt (Thrivent Financial) of Little Rock, AR

• Louise Frances (Independent) of Latham, NY

• Monica Jones (AAA Life Insurance) of Chula Vista, CA

• Lisa Pilgrim (Barley, McNamara & Wild, CPA’s) of Jacksonville, FL

• Angie Ribuffo (First Command) of Anchorage, AK

• Tashawana Rodwell (SB Media) of Parker, CO

• Nancy Wolfe-Smith (State Farm) of Plantation, FL

• Julie Yunker (MetLife) of Elba, NY

About WIFS

For over 75 years, Women in Insurance & Financial Services (WIFS) has served as the preeminent professional organization for women in the industry. Over 1,000 members and 24 local chapters are active nationally. WIFS is dedicated to attracting accomplished women to the financial services sector, developing their talents and advancing them toward success. Benefits include educational webinars, mentorship programming, coaching services, e-newsletters, peer connection and more.

For more information about WIFS, visit http://www.wifsnational.org or contact Deborah Duffy, Executive Director at 866.264.9437

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Susan Combs Receives SmartCEO Brava! Award

Tue, 01 Jul 2014 04:20:00 GMT

New York SmartCEO Announces the 2014 Brava! Awards Winners

40 powerhouse female business leaders to be recognized in
SmartCEO’s Brava! Awards program

New York, NY (June 10, 2014) — New York SmartCEO and Title Sponsor WeiserMazars LLP are pleased to announce the 2014 Brava! Award winners. The Brava! Awards celebrate the distinguished achievements of 40 of Greater New York’s top women business leaders. This year’s class collectively generates more than $1.2 billion in annual revenue and employ over 49,000 individuals. This year’s winners will be profiled in the September/October issue of SmartCEO magazine and celebrated at an awards ceremony on September 23, 2014 at Capitale.

Please see below for a complete list of winners and for program details. To share in the excitement leading up to the event, follow us @SmartCEO #BravaAwards.

“Brava winners possess the utmost qualities in a leader — vision, passion, compassion, dedication, perseverance. Every one of this year’s winners exhibits these qualities in running their business, their families and their philanthropic activities. They give 110 percent of themselves,” says Rick Crane, regional president of SmartCEO Media. “We are honored and humbled to recognize a group of women who are truly making a difference in the world.”

The winners will be celebrated at the New York Brava! Awards ceremony on September 23, 2014 at Capitale. An expected sell-out event, over 300 local C-level executives and guests will attend to celebrate their achievements. Past Brava! winners will also be in attendance to welcome the new class of winners and grow the community. The event will kick off with a cocktail reception followed by the awards ceremony and a final toast to the women leaders of Greater New York.

About SmartCEO
SmartCEO’s mission is to educate and inspire the business community through its award-winning magazine, connections at C-level events and access to valuable online resources. SmartCEO’s integrated media platforms reach decision makers in the Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC, metropolitan areas.

About the Brava! Awards
The Brava! Awards program celebrates female CEOs who combine their irrepressible entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for giving back to the community. Brava! Award winners are exemplary leaders of both their companies and their communities. They encourage local philanthropy, mentor up-and-coming leaders and set their companies on the path to tremendous growth. Each year, an independent committee of local business leaders selects winners based on the quality of applications submitted. SmartCEO shares their inspiring stories in the September/October issue of SmartCEO magazine and celebrates their success at an awards reception in September.

Complete Program Information:
2014 Brava! Awards
Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Time: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Location: Capitale
130 Bowery, New York, NY 10013
Attire: Business Cocktail

2014 New York Brava! Winners:
Wen Zhou, 3.1 Phillip Lim
Ann Gottlieb, Ann Gottlieb Associates
Dominique Debroux, Big Belli, LLC
Claudia Baricevic, Capitale
Susan L. Combs, PPACA, Combs & Co.
Elisabete Miranda, CQ fluency
Samantha DiGennaro, DiGennaro Communications
Cheryl Ann Lawrence McDaniel, Direct Success Inc.
Jennifer N. Nevins, DW Smith Associates, LLC
Susan Lindner, Emerging Media
Erika Weinstein, eTeam Executive Search LLC
Amanda Judge, Faire Collection
Hilda Polanco, Fiscal Management Associates
Stacy Francis, Francis Financial, Inc.
Maureen Henegan, Henegan Construction Co., Inc.
Marilyn Kane, Iridium Capital LLC
Julie B. Kampf, JBK Associates
Lynne S. Katzmann, Juniper Communities
Karen Gurl-Martell, KGM Consulting, Inc.
Gwen Whiting and Lindsey J. Boyd, The Laundress New York
Jil Larsen, Magic Mix Juicery
Robyn Streisand, The Mixx
Dr. Robin Smith, Neostem
Cheryl Biron, One Horn Transportation
Denise Mari, Organic Avenue and Mari Lifestyle
Joanna Phillips, Phillips Brokerage
Jill Scalisi, Scalisi Skincare
Jennifer Blumin, Skylight Group
Lori Leitgeb, Stack Builders
Mary Nittolo, The STUDIO
Sarah Endline, Sweet Riot
Leslie A. Firtell, Tower Legal Solutions
Liz Elting, TransPerfect
Nadine Cino, Tyga Box
Susan White Morrissey, White and Warren

Nonprofit Winners
Saranne Rothberg, ComedyCures Foundation
Gail A. Magaliff, FEGS Health & Human Services
Ruth Rathblott, Harlem Educational Activities Fund (HEAF)
Carol Robles-Román, Legal Momentum
Marsha Firestone, Ph.D., Women Presidents’ Organization

To find out more about the 2015 Brava! Awards nomination process, email us at NYprograms@smartceo.com. For information about sponsorship opportunities, email us at NewYork@smartceo.com.

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Susan Combs named Best Rising Star 2014 by LifeHealthPro

Thu, 19 Jun 2014 14:47:00 GMT

This year’s nominations for the National Underwriter Industry Elite Awards were stronger than ever, a who’s who of the best and brightest in the realms of market innovation, industry awareness, community outreach and young talent. Our winners and honorable mentions this year stand out for their leadership, drive and brilliance that only the Industry Elites can offer. It was an especially difficult selection process as each and every entry stood with great merit. But alas, only one can be chosen. With that, we present to you the 2014 National Underwriter Industry Elite Awards.

To read the full write up on the award, click here !

Wondering if the penalty is less for NOT offering Group Insurance come 2015?

Tue, 13 May 2014 12:23:00 GMT

Since the start of 2014 we’ve been approached by CPAs, attorneys, and other trusted advisors to assist them with Affordable Care Act (ACA) audits, to determine if their clients will be subject to the “Pay or Play” provision come 2015, and then in 2016 if they have more than 50 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) employees. I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce our ACA auditing services to you.

Currently I’m one of seven brokers in the New York Metro area with a Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (PPACA) certification through the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU). The certification is key, as I’m trained on all the variables within the ACA law and how it impacts companies of various sizes; plus the continuing education keeps me fully informed as Washington adjusts different provisions of the law.

For 2015, companies that have more than 100 FTE employees will be required to offer health coverage to all employees or they will be subject to a fine. That coverage must include the 10 Essential Benefits, or the company will be subject to a different fine. Combs & Company will perform the ACA audit and produce a report that highlights all provisions with which a company must comply (and the consequences if they don’t). We’ll also devise a look-back measurement the company should use to minimize any potential penalties. We’ll also review any Common Ownership issues, as these are often overlooked areas that can impact companies.

This is not a pitch to replace a company’s current broker. We’re offering this service to support a company’s current setup and because we know the level of expertise we bring to the table is not yet common in the industry. (Nor do most brokers want to assume the liability.) We will work with your client’s current broker to gather as much information as possible and then incorporate them into the audit process.

Our service is offered at a rate of $250/hour . The length of each audit depends on the complexity of your client’s business and health plans. We also have an in-house ERISA Attorney who can provide additional services for a flat fee, should any compliance issues come to light during the ACA audit.

If you’re interested in finding out more or having your client schedule a planning meeting with us, feel free to reach out!

I forgot to sign up for Health Insurance, now what?

Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:59:00 GMT

If you had started an enrollment on the New York State of Health Exchange Marketplace ( https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ ) you have until April 15 ^th to get your act together and get your application completed.
If you haven’t started an application yet and you are CURRENTLY UNINSURED, then you are out of luck with Exchange and other Private options until the next Open Enrollment which is set to begin on 11/15/14 for an enrollment of January 1 ^st , 2015. Sorry, no one’s special here.
If you are CURRENTLY INSURED you will be able to take coverage with the Exchange or other private insurance for effective dates after 4/1 as long as you can prove that you have had a Qualifying Life Event. These are listed below:
1. Individual or dependent loses minimum essential coverage due to:
  1. job loss
  2. divorce
  3. death of a spouse
  4. becoming ineligible for Medicaid or Child Health Plus
  5. expiration of COBRA
  6. health plan is decertified
2. Marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption
3. Gaining status as a citizen, national, or lawfully present individual
4. Consumer is newly eligible or ineligible for tax credits and/or cost sharing reductions
5. Permanent move to an area that has different health plan options
6. Marketplace staff or contractor enrollment error
7. Qualified Health Plan violated a provision of its contract
8. American Indians can enroll or change plans one time per month throughout the year

Not considered a Qualifying Life Event:

Voluntarily dropping other health coverage
Being terminated for not paying your premiums
Losing coverage that is not minimum essential coverage, in accordance with HHS guidelines

Moral of the story: Be more proactive next year!!!

What’s my penalty?

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 20:23:00 GMT

A question that comes up time and time again with the Affordable Care Act is: “How does the Individual Responsibility (aka Mandate) Penalty work?”

To avoid the penalty you must enroll in a marketplace plan OR have private coverage no later than March 31st, 2014 . If you do not, below are a breakdown of the penalties you will face.

2014: Greater of $95 per adult and $47.50 per child under age 18 or 1% of household income
2015: Greater of $325 per adult and $162.50 per child under age 18 or 2%
2016: Greater of $695 per adult and $347.50 per child under age 18 or 2.5% of taxable gross income capped at the average bronze-level insurance premium (60% actuarial) rate for the person’s family.

**The total family penalty is capped at 300% of any annual flat dollar amount for those 18 and over.

**If the penalty applies for less than a full calendar year, the penalty will be 1/12 of the annual amount per month without coverage.

Example:

Let’s look at the O’Brien family of 4 that has 2 children under the age of 18 and the family household income is $100,000 per year.

Just to make the example easier, we are giving everyone names….Meet the O’Brien Family: Mom – Samantha; Father – Mark; Son – Luke; Daughter – Sarah

Upfront we know that the Max Penalty the O’Brien’s’ can be given is: $570 (this is figured by a $95 penalty each for Samantha & Mark since they are the only ones over 18 x 300%), now let’s look at the breakdown if they would hit the Max Penalty….

Remember, it is the GREATER of the below up to the Max Penalty:

Flat dollar amount penalty calculation : $95 (Samantha) + $95 (Mark) + $47.50 (Luke) + $47.50 (Sarah) = $285

Percentage amount penalty calculation: 1% of $100,000 = $1000

Results: Since the Max Penalty the O’Brien family can be given in this example is $570, this will be the penalty they will be responsible for, since the 1% of household income exceeds this amount. This amount will be tacked on when Samantha and Mark’s taxes are calculated at the end of the year, so if they were planning on a nice refund this year, that will be deducted from that refund. Keep in mind that if the O’Brien’s do not pay taxes, as of now, there is no mechanism to collect this penalty.

So do I really get to keep my insurance if I got canceled?

Fri, 15 Nov 2013 03:30:00 GMT

As many have heard, Obama has offered a “fix” to many of the people that have gotten notifications of their insurance being canceled. I believe that this report , gives a good picture of it and I want to point out a few things before people start popping the cork and celebrating:

Obama said that carriers “could” offer the plan for 1 more year…
Obama pushed the ultimate decision over to the States and the Carriers…so far California, Idaho, Virginia and Kentucky have said no to this fix.
If the carrier choose to offer to extend, then they are going to have to send the customers a comparison that shows the differences between their plan and all the Exchange Plans that they are offering, what this translates to is more work when we are already 45 days out, and the carriers do not have the extra time on their hands right now.
The carriers do not have an actuarial value of any of these plans since they are not in their plan offerings and I believe that this would result in even higher prices as they would have to put in more man hours to reincorporate these plans.

If you have gotten a cancelation notice, I encourage you to call your carrier and see if they are going to pony up and continue to offer your plan, but don’t be shocked if you end up being one of many that they tell no.

Susan L Combs named one of the “20 Women in Insurance You Need to Know”

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 14:52:00 GMT

Very excited to bring this news to you! I was recently selected as one of the 20 Women in Insurance You Need to Know by LifeProHealth. Check out the list of all of these amazing women and see why you “Need to know” them!

Exchange Notice Deadline Approaching: October 1, 2013

Thu, 19 Sep 2013 13:55:00 GMT

Pretty much all employers will need to provide their employees with written notice that includes information regarding the Exchange (now called the Health Insurance Marketplace). The deadline to provide the notice is fast approaching; the notice must be provided to each employee not later than October 1, 2013 . Regardless of the size of your company and even if you currently do not offer coverage to your employees you *SHOULD* send this information out. The reason we say should instead of MUST is because as of last week, this has been another penalty that has been delayed and they haven’t told us when it will come back. Originally it was speculated a $100 fine for every day you have not complied with the request. We still encourage everyone to comply now as then when / if the penalty goes into effect you are all in compliance.

Click below to view the English version of the notices that you can provide to your employees :

English notice if you DO offer coverage

English notice if you DO NOT offer coverage

Article Review: ‘Affordable’ Care: $1 Pay Hike Costs Middle-Class Family $9,355 Hike in Premiums

Fri, 09 Aug 2013 20:26:00 GMT

I know there are a lot of confusing articles out there right now and this was written with a shock factor to get you to read the article, and for my client….it worked! He read it, and he contacted me to be his “BS Meter” as he put it.

Here is an example to further explain why this article is saying what it is say:

Ok, so let’s say it is a family of 4.

400% of the federal poverty level is around $95,000 for a family of four in 2014. If they are making $95,000, then with their subsidy aka discount they will get in the Exchange / Marketplace they cannot spend more than 9.5% of $95,000 on healthcare. Which translates to $9025 annually = $752 per month (just as a barometer, most family coverage in NY starts at around $1200 per month for a very watered down plan).

If the person makes $95,001, then they won’t get that discount and they’d be paying the full premium, so in my example $1200 x 12 = $14,400 annually, which translates into $5375 more annually if you make $1 more.

I’m not sure where they came up with that magic number of $9035 but it’s really not that far off if you start looking at richer benefit plans!

In Response to the New York Times Article Referencing a 50% Decrease in Premiums for New Yorkers

Thu, 18 Jul 2013 12:10:00 GMT

We have been getting numerous emails with this article being referenced by our clients along with excitement that when they wake up on January 1st, 2014 that their insurance bills will now be cut in half. I would like to draw your attention to a few items in this article and give you a bit of a reality check.

Point 1: “ Individuals buying health insurance on their own will see their premiums tumble next year in New York State as changes under the federal health care law take effect, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Wednesday.” The first thing that Groups need to look at is the first word….”Individuals”, this is not talking about Group Insurance, this is talking about the Individual Market in New York State that has been extremely expensive in the past. For example, one carrier that currently has an Individual Plan, the rates are coming in around $2000 per month for an Individual. Even with a 50% reduction, that is a $1000 premium for an Individual, which is still well over the average rate under Group Coverage in the State of New York.

Point 2: “Beginning in October, individuals in New York City who now pay $1,000 a month or more for coverage will be able to shop for health insurance for as little as $308 monthly .” I believe that this is very misleading, this is giving you the lowest price that is going to be in the Exchange aka Marketplace without a Subsidy (tax credit for being under 400% of the Federal Poverty Level). This price references what is being called “Young Invincible” Plan meaning, that to get this plan, you must be under 30 years old and you are looking at having more of a catastrophic plan which would cover Preventative Care and then you would have a minimum of a $6000 Deductible before anything else would be covered. Currently, New York does not offer any plans with this type of watered down coverage.

Point 3: “With federal subsidies, the cost will be even lower. (than $308 monthly)”. This will be ONLY if you as an Individual qualify for a Subsidy. This means that as a single person, to get ANY type of price break in the Exchange / Marketplace you must make under 400% of the Federal Poverty Level, which translates into making under $45,960 annually. If you do not make under that, then the plans you can get in the Exchange / Marketplace are going to be the exact same costs that you can get outside the Exchange / Marketplace

Things we are excited about in this article:

1. That for Individuals that have struggled with the high cost of health insurance will get to see some relief.

2. Department of Financial Services say they have approved 17 insurers to sell individual coverage through the New York exchange, including eight that are just entering the state’s commercial market. Currently there are only a handful, so more choices will be better for everyone! Keep in mind some of these may just be Medicare networks that only the lower income individuals will qualify to be a part of.

What else to keep in mind:

1. Be looking for “Borough-centric” plans, meaning that carriers are going to come out with plans that limit the network dramatically in order to get the cost down. A great example of this has been with Aetna’s NYC Community Plan, these plans have typically been under $400 a month in premium but they are an HMO plan where you must get a referral and they only have doctors in the 5 Boroughs. The smaller NYC Community Network they are utilizing is about 40% of the size of the normal Aetna Network. So be looking for these type of plans to be coming out In and Out of the Exchange / Marketplace.

2. Brokers will be allowed to sell inside and outside of the exchange and there will be no difference in cost. Be weary of signing up through a Navigator because as it stands right now, they are going to be glorified Enrollers that since they are not licensed, they cannot advise on Insurance, they can only present to you the plans and have you draw your own conclusions. Also, 6 months down the road if you have a question about the benefits you bought or you are having a claims issue, you cannot go back to the Navigator, you’ll be dealing with the carrier directly and not have someone as your advocate as you would if you had got your plan through a Licensed Broker that is more qualified to help assist you with your needs.

3. Be on the look out as groups to be getting hit with more taxes on your group plans, this is going to help to pay for the cost reduction for the Individual Plans.

Employer Penalties Delay

Mon, 08 Jul 2013 19:12:00 GMT

The Treasury Department announced on July 2, 2013 that the Obama Administration will provide an additional year before the mandatory employer and insurer reporting requirements under the Affordable Care Act begin. This delay is intended to allow the Administration to look into ways to simplify the new reporting requirements and to provide time to adapt health coverage and reporting systems while employers move towards making health coverage affordable and accessible for their employees.

The Administration has promised formal guidance on this transition in the very near future. We also expect proposed rules this summer implementing information reporting. Once those rules are published, the Administration will encourage employers, insurers and other reporting entities to voluntarily implement this information reporting in 2014. Since this transition relief will make it difficult to determine which employers owe employer penalties, the Administration is extending this transition
relief to the employer penalties – the penalties will not apply until 2015.

The transition relief does not affect the opening of the Exchange, scheduled for October 1, nor the individual mandate.

90 and under ONLY!

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:01:00 GMT

On March 18, 2013, the Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services issued proposed guidance regarding eliminating waiting periods in excess of 90 days for employees who are eligible for their company’s health insurance plan. A waiting period is defined as the time that must pass before an employee can be covered under a plan. This guidance is effective January 1, 2014, and remains in effect at least through December 31, 2014.

For plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2014, a waiting period for employees and dependents who are otherwise eligible for coverage under an employer’s group health plan cannot be longer than 90 calendar days, including weekends and holidays. Plans will no longer be able to use a “three month” waiting period as it might exceed 90 calendar days. This also means that employers can no longer use a waiting period in which coverage begins the first of the month following 90 days of service.

The proposed regulations also clarify how this provision applies to variable-hour employees where plan eligibility is based upon a specified number of hours worked. A plan is considered in compliance with the waiting period requirement if the hours of service required for eligibility for coverage under the plan do not exceed 1,200 hours. Note: This requirement cannot be re-applied to the same individual each year.

Will I Get a Penalty?

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 18:56:00 GMT

Some of you wondering if you are going to get hit with a penalty come 2014, the above picture is the best want to have a “quick check” on if you will or not. For more details, keep reading….

For the purposes of this provision fulltime is defined as an average of 30 or more hours per week.

Solely for the purposes of determining group size, the employer must calculate the number of FTEs or fulltime equivalent employees by including the employees working less than 30 hours into the equation.

For months beginning after December 31, 2013 an employer with an average of at least 50 FTE (full time equivalent employees) on business days in the preceding calendar year who fails to offer coverage to fulltime employees and their dependents (nothing is said about employer contribution) will pay an assessment of $168/month or $2,000/year for each fulltime employee who is able to obtain a premium tax credit or subsidy through an exchange (minus the first 30 employees).

Example: 60 fulltime employees- 30= 30 full time x $2,000 = $60,000 assessment.
Employers who do offer coverage but that is not minimally essential or unaffordable (meaning the employee contribution exceeds 9.5% of W-2 income for the lowest tier single premium) will pay $3k per FT employee who is able to obtain a premium tax credit or subsidy through the exchange. The assessment is limited to a maximum of $2k per FT employee minus the first 30.

Note subsidies are only available through a state or federally run exchange and are only available to individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid and who earn less than 400% of the FPL.

Example: -Income is $50k -Single annual premium is $600×12=$7,200 -9.5% of $50k = $4,750 (max to avoid penalty) -Employer must pay $7200-$4750 or pay the assessment

DETERMINING LARGE EMPLOYER STATUS:
The proposed regulations provide some transition relief for the determination of large employer status in 2014 that is aimed primarily at employers near the 50 full-time equivalent employee threshold. The transition relief allows employers to determine whether they are large employers based on a period of six consecutive calendar months as chosen by the employer in the 2013 calendar year, rather than based on the entire 2013 calendar year.

NON CALENDAR PLANS:
Relief was afforded to large employers who maintain a non-calendar year plan. If the employee is offered coverage that meets the law’s affordability and minimum value standards no later than the first day of the 2014 plan year, then no IRC §4980H penalty will be assessed with respect to that employee for the period prior to the first day of the 2014 plan year.
Note: Affiliated company rules changed with the proposed IRS rules of 12-28-2012.

AFFILIATED COMPANIES:

Example
Facts: Corporation A owns 100% of Corporation B. Corporation A employs 40 full-time employees in each calendar month of 2015. Corporation B employs 35 full-time employees in each calendar month of 2015. For 2015, the IRC §4980H(a) excise tax for a calendar month is $2,000 divided by 12. Corporation A does not sponsor an employer-sponsored plan for any calendar month of 2015, and receives a certification that at least one of its full-time employees has acquired health care coverage on an Exchange with the benefit of a premium tax credit. Corporation B sponsors an eligible employer-sponsored plan under which all full-time employees are eligible for minimum essential coverage that is affordable and meets the minimum value standard.

BIG change here. Standards will be applied separately to each entity that is a member of the controlled group comprising the employer (referred to in the rule as a “large employer member”) in determining the liability for and assessment of any tax penalties under IRC §4980H. (In this document, reference to “large employer member” means a member of a controlled group and also an employer that is a single entity and not part of a controlled group of corporations. If one entity of a controlled group is assessed, only the FT employees of the ONE entity is assessed, not the entire group.

Penalties and deduction of the first 30 employees therefore will be allocated to each separate entity based on its share of the total.

Conclusion: Corporation A and Corporation B are members of a controlled group that employs 50 or more full-time employees and, therefore, are large employers subject to IRC §4980H; however, the excise tax liability is applied separately. Under these facts, Corporation A is subject to an assessable excise tax under IRC §4980H for 2015 equal to $48,000, which is equal to 24 x $2,000 (40 full-time employees reduced by 16 (its allocable share of the 30-employee offset ((40/75 x 30 = 16)) and then multiplied by $2,000. Corporation B is not subject to any assessable excise tax under IRC §4980H for 2015

– an offer of coverage must be made to full-time employees and their dependents. Dependents, for purposes of IRC §4980H, is defined as children under age 26. Large employers will not face tax penalties for not offering coverage to spouses,

DEFINITION OF DEPENDENT :
The proposed regulations define “dependents” for purposes of IRC §4980H as an employee’s child under age 26. Employers will not face tax penalties for not offering coverage to spouses, who will be able to seek a federal premium tax credit to purchase health insurance in an Exchange if other minimum essential coverage is not available. This definition of dependents does not apply for purposes of any other section of the Code.

Note: FTE means fulltime equivalents, NOT fulltime employees.

Health Insurance Terms 101

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 12:00:00 GMT

So many times we are asked to explain health insurance terms to our clients and their employees. Thought we would share the most commonly used terms and explain how it works!

Health Insurance Glossary

Prescription Drugs:

Drugs come in 3 tiers, below are the details:

A tiered formulary offers its lowest copay for generic drugs (Tier 1) , charges you a little more for brand-name drugs (Tier 2) still under patent (that is, you have no option but to take them if you need them) and a lot more for what formularies call “non-preferred” drugs or non-formulary brand named drugs (Tier 3) most often, they are brand-name drugs you choose to purchase in spite of available generics), and new drugs whose cost is higher than alternative therapies (though these may eventually become tier two drugs).

Deductible: The deductible is the amount an individual must pay for health care expenses before insurance (or a self-insured company) covers the costs. Often, insurance plans are based on yearly deductible amounts. For Prescription Drugs, you have a one-time annual Deductible that has to be satisfied for Tier 2 and Tier 3 Drugs only.

Major Medical In Network:

Coinsurance: refers to money that an individual is required to pay for services, after a deductible has been paid. By definition it is the split between the Insurance Company and the Insured. Coinsurance is always specified by a percentage. For example, the employee pays 20 percent toward the charges for a service and the insurance company pays 80 percent.

Out-of-Pocket Maximum: The dollar amount of claims filed for eligible expenses at which point you’ve paid 100 percent of your out-of-pocket and the insurance begins to pay at 100 percent. Stop-loss is reached when an insured individual has paid the deductible and reached the out-of-pocket maximum amount of co-insurance.

Copayment: is a predetermined (flat) fee that an individual pays for health care services, in addition to what the insurance covers. For example, some plans require a $30 copayment for each office visit, regardless of the type or level of services provided during the visit.

DXL: Stands for – Diagnostic X-ray and Lab, when you see this, it will give you the amount of the copayment associated with these services.

Lab Fees: The copayment associated with lab fees.

Hospital Benefits In Network:

Hospital In-Patient: Copay associated with hospitalizations where you are admitted for overnight stays.

Hospital Out-Patient: Copay associated with hospitalizations where you are admitted, but you do not have an overnight stay.

Emergency Room: Copay associated with Emergency Room visit, this is waived if you end up being admitted.

Surgical Benefits In Network:

Surgical In-Patient: Copay associated with an in hospital surgical procedure where you are going to be admitted for an overnight stay.

Surgical Out-Patient: Copay associated with an in hospital surgical procedure where you are admitted, but you do not have an overnight stay.

Mental Health & Substance Abuse In Network:

Mental Nervous In-Patient: Copay associated when admitted to a facility for overnight stays.

Substance Abuse In-Patient: Copay associated when admitted to a facility for overnight stays, aka rehab.

Mental Nervous Out-Patient: Copay associated with visit aka therapist visit

Substance Abuse Out-Patient: Copay associated with visit aka Out Patient Program

Out of Network Services:

All Out of Network are treated the same, the deductible has to be satisfied first, then a percentage of the Allowable Charges are covered until an Out of Pocket Maximum is reached, then 100% of the Allowable Charges are covered. Keep in mind, if you go to an Out of Network Doctor that charges over the Allowable Charge Amount, then you will be balance billed.

So just what does it mean to me as an employer if my state doesn’t opt to expand Medicaid?

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 15:58:00 GMT

Medicaid Expansion

Medicaid is a partnership between the federal government and the states. States are able to design their own programs within the boundaries set by federal regulations and the federal government ponies up a large share of the money. The current Medicaid program requires states to cover only certain categories of needy individuals: pregnant women, children, needy families, the blind, the elderly and the disabled. Today, approximately 60 million people are enrolled in the program; expansion would add another 17 million. The ACA’s Medicaid expansion provisions require states to expand their Medicaid programs by 2014 to cover all individuals under the age of 65 with incomes below 133% of the federal poverty level (roughly $31,000 for a family of four). The ACA offered expansion of Medicaid on very generous terms – the law calls for the federal government to pick up all costs of the Medicaid expansion from 2014 through 2016. Subsequently, the federal payment level gradually decreases, to a minimum of 90%.

The challenge to the ACA was that it unconstitutionally coerced states to expand Medicaid by threatening to withhold all federal Medicaid grants for non-compliance. Instead of just refusing to grant new funds to states that did not comply with the new conditions, it would withhold those states’ existing Medicaid funds. The counter argument was that the Medicaid expansion provisions were simply modifications of the existing program that offered financial inducements to comply with the new law. The Supreme Court held that, while states could be required to comply with certain conditions in order to receive funds, they could not be penalized if they chose not.to participate in the new program by taking away their existing Medicaid funding. Simply put, the Court found that the ACA provisions were unconstitutional because the government cannot coerce states to expand Medicaid by threatening to withhold existing federal Medicaid funds. Additionally, the Court further found that the unconstitutional provisions could be severed and remedied, leaving the rest of the statute intact. The end result is that states may decide to opt out of the Medicaid expansion.

States that choose not to participate in the expansion will be faced with questions about how Medicaid programs will function and how it will affect the population that would have been Medicaid eligible through the expanded coverage. Opting out of the expansion would save the states some money in the long run. Within hours of the Supreme Court’s decision, Republican officials in several states said they were likely to oppose expanding the program.

What does this mean for employers?

For employers with above 50 lives, this could mean additional penalties under the ACA. If a state doesn’t expand Medicaid coverage, employers with over 50 lives may be subject to more plan affordability penalties than they would be were the state to expand. Under the employer mandate, employers are subject to penalties if they fail to offer group health plan coverage or they offer coverage that fails to meet certain quality and affordability standards (generally if premium for single coverage exceeds 9.5% of employee’s household income or if the plan fails to provide at least a 60% “actuarial value” and the individual enrolls in the Exchange). If Medicaid coverage is not expanded, individuals who would have been eligible for Medicaid under the expanded conditions will now likely find coverage under an Exchange and be eligible for federal subsidies. This could increase an employer’s exposure to shared responsibility under the employer mandate.

Employers with less than 50 lives and not subject to the employer mandate will also be affected. States that choose not to expand Medicaid will force more people to be dependent upon their employers or an Exchange for health insurance. Coverage under the Exchange will be challenging to navigate at the onset, will vary state by state, and may or may not be a viable option for many employees, effectively forcing the employer to step in. When employees cannot afford their insurance, it tends to leave employers in a sticky situation.

No matter what the size of an employer, allowing states to opt out of the Medicaid expansion provisions will likely result in more people (who typically were not insured in the past) seeking coverage on an Exchange. This certainly does not bode well for the overall experience of the Exchange-based plans, ultimately affecting rates and affordability for employees.

___

This document is designed to highlight various employee benefit matters of general interest to our readers. It is not intended to interpret laws or regulations, or to address specific client situations. You should not act or rely on any information contained herein without seeking the advice of an attorney or tax professional. ©2012 Emerson Reid, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

US Supreme Court Upholds Affordable Care Act

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 16:50:00 GMT

US Supreme Court Upholds Affordable Care Act

The US Supreme Court today (June 28, 2012) upheld the Affordable Care Act (ACA), ruling that the law’s individual mandate is a constitutional exercise of Congress’s power to impose taxes. With the Court’s decision, compliance efforts likely will move ahead at full speed with major provisions of the ACA becoming effective in 2013 and 2014.

In a 5-4 decision, Chief Justice Roberts, joined by Justices Ginsberg, Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan, concluded, “The Affordable Care Act’s requirement that certain individuals pay a financial penalty for not obtaining health insurance may reasonably be characterized as a tax. Because the Constitution permits such a tax, it is not our role to forbid it, or to pass upon its wisdom or fairness.”

In the Court’s analysis of the ACA’s Medicaid provisions, it held that it would be unconstitutional for the federal government to withhold all Medicaid funding in order to force states to comply with the Medicaid expansion. Chief Justice Roberts wrote, “Nothing … precludes Congress from offering funds under the ACA to expand the availability of health care, and requiring that states accepting such funds comply with the conditions on their use. What Congress is not free to do is to penalize States that choose not to participate in that new program by taking away their existing Medicaid funding.”

The Court ruled that the Anti-Injunction Act, which limits lawsuits challenging a tax before it is assessed, does not apply because Congress specifically provided that the penalty payment enforcing the individual mandate would not be treated as a “tax.” Notwithstanding acceptance of Congress’s penalty label for purposes of application of the Anti-Injunction Act, the Court ruled that for purposes of determining whether the individual mandate is constitutional, the penalty payment falls within Congress’s general power to tax and, therefore, is upheld.

The decision arises from cases brought by the state of Florida (and joined by 25 other states), the National Federation of Independent Business, and several individuals challenging the constitutionality of the individual mandate and the Medicaid expansion. The cases were later consolidated.

In their dissent, Justices Kennedy, Scalia, Thomas and Alito wrote that the law should have been struck down in its entirety.

With the exception of the limitation on the federal government’s authority to withhold Medicaid funding, all provisions of the ACA stand and compliance efforts likely will move ahead at full speed. In preparation for the major coverage expansion to occur under the ACA in 2014, the Administration is expected to release a host of regulations dealing with the definition of minimum essential coverage, employer coverage and reporting requirements, and an array of new taxes and fees. Clients should be aware of provisions of the law set to take effect in 2013 and 2014, including those listed in the table below.

Provisions of the Affordable Care Act That Take Effect in 2012, 2013 and 2014

2012

• Medicare hospital value-based purchasing program
• Increase in physician quality reporting requirements in Medicare
• Additional Medicare pilot programs on alternative payment methodologies, e.g., accountable care organizations
• Increased requirements for hospitals to maintain not-for-profit status
• Fees from insured (including self-insured) plans transferred to the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund

2013

• Increase Medicare payroll tax by 0.9% on high-income earners
• Impose a 3.8% tax on net investment income of high-income individuals
• $500,000 cap on health insurers’ deduction for executive compensation
• Eliminate employer deduction for Medicare Part D subsidy
• FSA limitations
• Excise tax on medical device manufacturers and importers
• Medical expense deduction floor increases to 10%
• Nationwide bundled payment pilot begins in Medicare
• Increased Medicaid reimbursement for primary care
• Medicare physician comparison data available to the public
• Reductions in Medicare payments for select hospital readmissions
• Expanded coverage of preventive services by Medicaid

2014

• Employer mandate and individual mandate
• Employer and insurer reporting requirements
• New health insurance market reforms take effect
• State health insurance Exchanges established
• Premium tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies available to certain individuals in Exchange insurance products
• Medicaid expansion to new populations (100% federal match to states for newly-eligible populations through 2016)
• Annual fee on health insurers
• Medicare/Medicaid DSH payment cuts begin
• Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) issues first report to Congress if Medicare spending exceeds growth target

Post-2014

• Excise tax on high-cost employer-sponsored coverage (2018)

Political reactions

The Court’s ruling will not end the political debate over health care, which will remain a central issue in the 2012 elections and beyond. The law stands as the centerpiece of the domestic record of President Obama, who today said, “Whatever the politics, today’s decision was a victory for people all over this country whose lives will be more secure because of this law and the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold it.” The President added, “With today’s announcement it is time for us to move forward to implement and, where necessary, to improve this law.”

In comments in response to the ruling, presumed Republican presidential nominee Gov. Mitt Romney said, “What the Supreme Court did not do on its last day in session, I will do in my first day in office. I will act to repeal Obamacare.”

Following the release of the decision, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) announced that the House on July 11 will hold a vote on legislation to repeal the ACA in its entirety. The measure likely will pass the Republican-controlled House, but it is unlikely to advance in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Repeal of the ACA has been a primary focus of congressional Republicans and remains a central objective of many Republicans’ campaigns in the November elections. Efforts to repeal all or part of the law will remain difficult unless Republicans maintain control of the House, win the presidency, and win at least a majority in the Senate in the November 2012 elections.

Republicans to date have not coalesced around a proposal to replace the ACA. Further efforts to control rising health care costs, including reforms to federal health entitlement programs and health-related tax expenditures, will be at the center of budget and deficit-reduction debates that are expected to dominate Washington after the November elections.

Background on the law

The Affordable Care Act was enacted in March 2010; it comprises the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (which President Obama signed on March 23, 2010) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (which the President signed on March 30, 2010).

The primary goals of the ACA are to: (i) expand coverage to an estimated 32 million Americans without health insurance; (ii) reform the delivery system to improve quality and drive efficiency; and (iii) lower the overall costs of providing health care.

To accomplish the goal of expanding coverage, the ACA mandates that all Americans maintain a minimum level of health coverage (the so-called individual mandate) or face a tax penalty. The law expands Medicaid coverage and provides federal premium tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies to assist low and moderate income individuals without affordable employer-sponsored insurance in obtaining health insurance through state-based insurance Exchanges. The ACA mandates, for the first time, that employers with 50 or more full-time employees provide certain minimum benefits or pay penalty fees.

The law also implemented insurance market reforms, including a ban on exclusions for pre-existing conditions, premium rate restrictions, extension of dependent coverage through age 26, and mandatory coverage of preventive services.

A mix of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement cuts; provisions to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse in those public programs; other delivery system reforms; and a series of tax increases on individuals, corporations and the health industry are used to offset the cost of the law.

For more information

A video highlighting key elements of the Supreme Court’s decision will be available on www.ey.com .

An Ernst & Young Thought Center webcast discussing the ruling’s implications for individuals, employers, and health care providers has been scheduled for July 17. Follow this link to register.

Women’s preventive care enhancements

Mon, 21 May 2012 15:52:00 GMT

The Affordable Care Act (ACA or health care reform law) requires nongrandfathered health plans to cover evidence-informed preventive care and screenings provided for in comprehensive guidelines supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) department of HHS.

In guidelines released August 1, 2011 , HHS outlined required preventive care services for women. The guidelines require nongrandfathered individual and group health plans to include these services without cost sharing:

Well-woman visits
Screening for gestational diabetes
Testing for human papillomavirus (HPV)
Counseling for sexually transmitted infections
Screening and counseling for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
FDA-approved contraception methods and contraceptive counseling
Breastfeeding support, supplies and counseling
Screening and counseling for interpersonal and domestic violence

For group health plans (whether insured or ASO), these services must be provided at the first plan year on or after August 1, 2012. For individual plans, the services must be provided in new policies beginning on or after August 1, 2012, and existing policies beginning at the start of the next policy year following August 1, 2012 (generally January 1, 2013). System and market considerations may accelerate the effective date in the individual market in some states.

The guidelines require coverage of contraceptive methods “as prescribed.” This language appears to limit the coverage requirement to contraceptive methods that require a prescription; future guidance may clarify this issue. The guidelines allow plans to encourage lower-cost contraceptives by charging cost-sharing for brand-name contraceptives when a generic is available.

The initial guidance about these requirements allowed a narrowly defined group of religious employers (essentially just churches) to choose not to cover contraceptives and sterilizations as part of preventive care benefits. Many other religious groups, such as religiously affiliated hospitals and universities, will not qualify for this exemption. On February 10, 2012, the administration announced its intention to issue revised regulations. According to a White House Fact Sheet , the revised regulations will:

Exempt churches, other houses of worship and similar organizations from covering contraception on the basis of their religious objections.
Establish a one-year transition period for other religiously affiliated organizations while this policy is being implemented.

What’s Coming for the HSA in 2013

Thu, 10 May 2012 15:58:00 GMT

What’s new for 2013? HSA contribution limits, HDHP minimum deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums will increase.

HSA Contribution Limits:

Individual (self-only HDHP): $3,250($150 increase from 2012)
Family: $6,450 ($200 increase from 2012)

Limits for catch-up contributions (for persons over age 55): $1,000 (unchanged from 2012)

HDHP Minimum Required Deductibles:

Self-only: $1,250
Family: $2,500

HDHP Out-of-Pocket Maximum:

Self-only: $6,250 (a $200 increase from 2012)
Family: $12,500 (a $400 increase from 2012)

For more information view the IRS change

Just what is this “Summary of Benefits & Coverage” that I am required to submit to my employees come September?

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:48:00 GMT

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires all group health plans, including grandfathered plans and self-insured plans, to provide participants and beneficiaries a summary of benefits and coverage (SBC). The effective date for compliance with the SBC requirements under the ACA was delayed pending further guidance (proposed regulations had been issued in August 2011). The Departments of Labor, Treasury and Health and Human Services (the Departments) issued final rules regarding these provisions which will take effect beginning in September 2012.

Who Must Provide an SBC?

For fully-insured plans, both the carrier and the plan administrator (typically the employer) are responsible for providing the SBC to participants and beneficiaries. The final regulations provide that as long as either one of them provides a complete SBC in a timely manner, the requirement will be deemed satisfied for the other party. Employers should reach out to their carriers to discuss who will take on this responsibility. For self-insured plans, the plan administrator is responsible to provide the SBC and employers should contact their third-party administrator for assistance. The final regulations clarify that a single SBC may be provided to a participant and any beneficiaries at the participant’s last known address. If a beneficiary’s last known address is different than the participant’s, a separate SBC must be furnished to such address.

What is Required to be in the SBC?

The following information must be included in the SBC:
Uniform definition of standard insurance terms and medical terms;
Description of the coverage, including cost sharing for each category of benefits;
Exceptions, reductions and limitations of coverage;
Cost sharing provisions including deductibles, coinsurance and copay obligations;
Renewability and continuation of coverage provisions;
Coverage examples;
Statement that the SBC is only a summary and that the plan document, policy or certificate of insurance should be consulted;
Contact information for questions and to obtain the plan document, policy or certificate of insurance;
Internet address to obtain a list of network providers;
If the plan has a prescription drug formulary, an internet address to obtain information on prescription drug coverage; and
Internet address to review the uniform glossary, and a statement that paper copies are available, as well as contact information for how to get them.

Helpful Links

Compliance Guide: www.dol.gov/ebsa/pdf/SBCguidance.pdf

Summary of Benefits and Coverage Template: www.dol.gov/ebsa/pdf/SBCtemplate.pdf

Instructions for Completing the SBC – Group Plans: www.dol.gov/ebsa/pdf/SBCInstructionsGroup.pdf

Uniform Glossary of Coverage and Medical Terms: www.dol.gov/ebsa/pdf/SBCUniformGlossary.pdf

Creative Benefits to Engage, Motivate and Retain

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:33:00 GMT

We all know how hard it is in this economy to keep the good employees we have and attract the good ones we want. How much do the “bells and whistles” we offer as an employer weigh in on the choice employees make to stay with us or move on; or new employees to find a new home within our firm?

Kyle Lagunas, an HR Market Analyst at Software Advice , takes a look at just this, in his blog “Software Advice”. Sometimes it is just the “little things” that make the big difference.

Click here to read more.

Wage Theft Prevention Act Annual Notice Deadline

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:33:00 GMT

The Wage Theft Prevention Act is a new Act that went into effect April of 2011. The Act gives greater protection to workers, and makes changes in the way they are notified of their pay rates and receive wage statements. Pursuant to the Act, beginning in 2012, all New York employers must provide an annual pay notice to all employees (exempt and non-exempt) who work in New York (they must also do so upon hire). The annual notice must be provided to employees between January 1st and February 1st of each year. The notice must include the following information:

• Dates of work covered;

• Employer’s address and phone number;

• The rate of pay and the manner in which it is paid (hourly, salary, commission, etc.)

• Gross wages; net wages;

• Deductions;

• Allowances against minimum wage; and

• For non-exempt employees, the regular rate, overtime rate, and the number of regular and overtime hours worked.

The notices may be provided to employees electronically, as long as employees can acknowledge receipt and print the notice. A copy of the notice must be maintained by employers for six years.

Under the law, employers can be assessed a penalty of $50 per week per employee if proper notice is not given (employees have a separate cause of action up to $2,500).

The New York State Department of Labor provides FAQs that contain further information and can be found at:

http://www.labor.ny.gov/workerprotection/laborstandards/PDFs/wage-theft-prevention-act-faq.pdf

NYSE Bell Ringing for WIFS

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:07:00 GMT

In case you missed it! Here is the link to the video for ringing the NYSE Opening Bell this morning.

http://exchanges.nyx.com/en/new-york-stock-exchange/women-insurance-and-financial-services-wifs-ring-opening-bell

Susan Combs to help Ring the NYSE Opening Bell December 27, 2011

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:10:00 GMT

Tune in on December 27th 9:25 AM to watch the President of Combs & Company help ring the New York Stock Exchange Opening Bell!

You can tune in live online at 9:29am EST via the provided link below or watch it live on television through CNBC, or Fox Business Network.

http://www.nyse.com/attachment/liveflashbell.htm

The honor of ringing the opening bell comes in celebration of the Women in Insurance and Financial Services (WIFS) 75th Anniversary. Susan is currently on the National & Local Board of Directors of WIFS.

Best Advice I Ever Got

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:31:00 GMT

My father always told me there are three major aspects to your life – you have the person you are with, the place where you live, and the thing you do for a living. If you’re happy with 3 out of 3 then you are living a golden life; but on any given day, if you can be happy in at least 2 of those aspects, you’re doing just fine. But if you’re happy with only one or none at all, the get off your butt and do something about it. Surround yourself with supportive people who “get” you; to whom you don’t have to explain yourself. Live in a place that excites you and that cultivates who you are and who you want to be. Choose to do something you love because invariably you’ll do it well.

My friend Ron Williams has a saying , “If you are not a wind in my sail, then you are an anchor on my tail.” I have a tremendous husband (my word not his), a great family, and fantastic friends. I have them all because I choose to have them in my life (and yes, that goes for my family). I live in a city that doesn’t bullshit me; it gives me just as good as it takes from me. And I get to decide on the clients I want to work with. My business theory is fairly simple – if I wouldn’t Friend someone on Facebook, then I don’t want them as a client. That’s how I lead my life.

No matter what your aspirations are in life be the kind of person that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, the devil says, “Oh crap, they’re up.”

So just what is going on with Blue Cross?

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 22:41:00 GMT

As you may have heard Blue Cross will be making some drastic changes to its health insurance portfolio starting April 1, 2012. Currently Blue Cross offers more than 30 health plan options to small businesses (2-50 employees), but as of April 1 ^st they are eliminating most of their portfolio and reducing your options to 4 meager plans.

This is a forced migration to one of the four plans, regardless of when your renewal date occurs. For example, if your renewal is January 1, 2012, you can renew on your current plan at 1 ^st quarter rates, but come April 1 ^st , you will have to choose one of the four plans Blue Cross is making available and do so at 2 ^nd quarter rates.

Blue Cross has provided us with a preview of the four plans that will be available for Small Businesses. If you would like to see the plan structures, please email us at info@combsandco.com and we will send you a copy.

This is a confusing time in health insurance, and we don’t anticipate it will clear up anytime soon.

Who’s Insured?

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:08:00 GMT

Have you ever wondered when it comes to your insurance, who actually is covered in regards to your company structure? The wait is over, take a look at this user friendly gride we created for our clients!

Who Is An Insured

Essential Benefits: What are they?

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:45:00 GMT

The essential benefits package will become the standard for health coverage and will be used as the basis for establishing the different benefit levels of plans that will be offered in the health insurance exchange. In addition, all new health plans that are sold to individuals will have to cover, at a minimum, all of the health care services in the essential benefits package. In 2014, all Small Group (1 to 100 Employees) will include these essential benefits as well. This will help ensure that every health plan provides the quality of coverage and financial protections necessary to safeguard families from the devastating financial effects of illness.

Right now, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has come out with an estimation of what these benefits will be. They are as follows:

Ambulatory Patient Care
Emergency Room Services
Hospitalization
Maternity & Newborn Coverage
Mental Health & Substance Abuse
Prescription Benefit
Rehab
Prevention & Wellness
Pediatrics Including Oral & Vision

There may be some more tweaks to this, but this is a solid estimation that you can pretty much take to the bank!

Something you should know about the National Healthcare Bill that is due to take effect in 2014 – even if you do everything right, you can still get hit with a fine!

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:54:00 GMT

To explain this is layman’s terms we need to start off with a couple of definitions:

Exchange: is a set of state regulated and standardized health care plans, from which individuals may purchase health insurance.

Full Time Employee : 30 or more hours worked during the week

Full Time Equivalent (FTE): a calculation where you add up all the employees who work 30 hours or more per week, and then give partial credit to those employees who work less than 30 hours per week.

For example, let’s look at a company that has 70 actual people working for it:

35 Employees work 30 hours or more per week = 35 Employees

20 Employees work 20 hours per week = 13.33 Employees ((20 x 20) / 30)

10 Employees work 15 hours per week = 5 Employees ((10 x15) / 30)

5 Employees work 10 hours per week = 1.66 Employees ((5×10) / 30)

FTE count is 55 Employees

Household Income : Total taxable Income recorded per household (not per individual)

What you should know:

Point 1:

In 2014, if you have 50 or more employees you are obligated to offer them Group Health Coverage or potentially face a fine. If you decide not to, and 1 employee enters the Exchange to get health coverage, you not only get hit with a $2,000 fine for that employee, you are hit with a fine for ALL your calculated FTE employees. However, the legislation exempts the first 30 employees from the fine calculation (i.e., if the employer has 55 FTE employees as in the example above, the employer pays the fine for 25 employees).

In our example above, for that one employee going to the Exchange, the employer would be hit with a fine of $50,000 (Total Employees 55 – 30 exempt = 25 x $2,000) for that year alone. This is a steep penalty, but if you weigh it against the potential cost of health insurance, it may be worth paying the fine.

Point 2:

In 2014, if an employer offers Group Health Coverage, it must be deemed Affordable. If an employee’s contribution to an employer-sponsored health plan is greater than 9.5% of that employee’s HOUSEHOLD income, it is deemed Unaffordable. If this employee applies to and is accepted by the Exchange, the employer will be fined $3,000 for that employee, and any other employee that enters the Exchange under similar circumstances.

There are numerous issues with this setup, but two of the most obvious are:

As an employer, you are not allowed to ask an employee what their household income is.
By 2014, non-discriminiation laws will be in effect, so you must treat ALL employees the same in regards to contributions. This is either done as a percentage of the premium or flat dollar amount; you are unable to do it as a percentage of income. For example, the employer contributes $300 per month towards the premium or the employer contributes 75% of the cost of the premium on a monthly basis.

What this means for you as an employer?

Some employers may decide to take the penalty for not offering coverage since in our example a $50,000 fine is still far less than health insurance premiums for 55 FTEs annually. This will result in even more uninsured just due to cost.

Even if you do your homework, know that there are elements to this law that may put you out of compliance.

What brokers are trying to do?

We are working with our lobbying group, National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU,www.nahu.org) to have this changed so that employers are allowed to create a Safe Harbor, if you have looked at the lowest wage employee’s contribution when you set up your contributions. Also, we are advocating for a “Last Look” by employers so they can correct this immediately to go into compliance.

What you can do?

Call your Congressman. Let them know you have some concerns and that some of these fines would be detrimental to your company.