1. My Car Was Hit by a Hit-and-Run Driver.
2. Small Business Week
3. IIAV Takes on The Hill
4. UPDATED Information Security Program Template Now Available to IIAV Member Agencies
5. Central Insurance Honored with Best Practices Award

Agencies:

Associates:

Thankfully, this is not an everyday event. Even though I work in the insurance industry (duh!) and should be familiar with the process, it's still a bit disconcerting. I must admit, however, I did want to take the car for an estimate at a rather vocal auto repair facility known locally for exorbitant charges just to see how much they would charge (although "they do a good job"), but I just didn't have the time.

Great news for sole proprietors and other small business owners effective July 1, 2018. It goes without saying, the individual health insurance market is a mess. Therefore, the passing of SB 672 is a victory for many small business owners. A summary of SB 672 as introduced: health insurance, small employers and self-employed persons.

How to Set Up Your Workstation to Help Increase Productivity

It seems everyone I talk to is feeling overwhelmed. There is too much to do and not enough time to get it all done. To many, being as productive as possible means accomplishing everything you need to get done. For me, productivity is more about getting the right things done, not just getting more things done. I will address this topic in more detail in a future issue of TechTips.

IR-2018-99, April 16, 2018

WASHINGTON – Many U.S. corporations elect to use a fiscal year end and not a calendar year end for federal income tax reporting purposes.  Due to a provision in the recently enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), a corporation with a fiscal year that includes Jan. 1, 2018 will pay federal income tax using a blended tax rate and not the flat 21 percent tax rate under the TCJA that would generally apply to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2017.

Q: We’ve just learned that a supervisor and his subordinate are involved in a personal, romantic relationship. In light of the #MeToo movement, should we be requiring anything or taking any action?

WASHINGTON — In recognition of National Small Business Week, April 29 to May 5, the Internal Revenue Service is highlighting several resources to help small business owners and self-employed individuals understand and meet their tax obligations. The new tax law changes enacted in December 2017 make it especially important for these groups to know about new provisions affecting them. 

VAN WERT, Ohio – The Central Insurance Companies was recently awarded the prestigious Best Practices Award of Excellence from the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”). This is the 11th consecutive year the company has received this award.

RICHMOND – Gov. Ralph Northam is urging Virginians to purchase flood insurance or renew their policies on or before May 1, a month before the official start of hurricane season. Flooding is the most common natural disaster, and many people do not realize that standard homeowners and renters insurance policies do not cover damage from floods.

IIAV had 15 members represent Virginia at the Big I Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. April 18-20, 2018.

In response to Virginia Statute 38.2-613.2 requiring agencies to have a written information security program, IIAV had an Information Security Program template developed for its members some five years ago. This template was an effort to help agencies avoid getting overwhelmed with the technical jargon of the information required and discard complying with this code.