4th Quarter, 2014 Kinney Pike Report - In This Issue:
  
 

Church Street Marketplace, Burlington VT
Know Your Stuff - Keep Track of Your Possessions Online

  

Here's a quick and easy way to keep track of your possessions online.  

Know Your Stuff® - Home Inventory, the Insurance Information Institute's free online home inventory software, is an app that makes creating and updating your home inventory easy and efficient. It provides free, secure online storage for easy access to your inventory anywhere, any time. You never know when a disaster may strike, but you can be prepared with an up-to-date home inventory.

This allows you to keep the information on hand and updated so that you can easily provide it to your insurance company should a disaster strike or a burglary occur. Having this information prepared and stored remotely on secure servers ensures that nothing is overlooked when presenting your claim; furthermore, your information will be accessible from any computer, in the event you cannot access your own.

Start your new year out on the right foot! Know Your Stuff®, and be prepared!  

Learn more by clicking here.   

 
  Just a Typical Day...
Things are hopping inside the doors at Kinney Pike!  Here's some quick stats, to see what a typical day/week/month is like here!

  * In a 2-week period, we received over 2,250 phone calls.
  *  In a 30-day period, we received over 160,000 email messages.
Free Monthly Benefits Webinars

Each month, Bob Radecki, a nationally-recognized expert on Employee Benefits Compliance and Kinney Pike partner, hosts a Benefits-related webinar that we offer to our business clients free of charge.  These webinars have been extremely popular and some clients have even commented; "Bob is the best speaker I've ever heard."  

We know that Benefits Compliance can be a complicated, unpopular subject, but we encourage you to listen in on these webinars, and you're sure to learn something.  

Here is a quick look at the topics for the next 3 months.  Invitations are sent out via email to clients 2 - 3 weeks in advance to register. If you are not able to attend a webinar, handouts, Questions and Answers and a recorded version are all available, shortly after the webinar.   

Employee Benefits Compliance Webinars - First Quarter 2015

ACA Regulatory Update

January 29th
3 p.m. Eastern (90 minutes)
Presented by Bob Radecki & Regan Blomme, J.D., MBA

It is expected that the regulatory agencies will continue to release a large volume of ACA-related regulations and guidance throughout 2015. We will hold at least two webinars during 2015 specifically designed to address the most recently released guidance. This webinar will address breaking issues relevant to both large and small employers.

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Wellness Regulations & the EEOC Lawsuits

February 26th
3 p.m. Eastern (90 minutes)
Presented by Mark Major, J.D. & Regan Blomme, J.D., MBA

The EEOC has filed a number of lawsuits challenging some common employer wellness plan strategies. Attend this webinar for a review of existing wellness rules and an update on the EEOC lawsuits and their impact on employer wellness plans.

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Employer ACA Reporting Requirements

March 26th
3 p.m. Eastern (90 minutes)
Presented by Bob Radecki & Regan Blomme, J.D., MBA

Beginning in 2016, all Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) and any self-funded employer (even if not an ALE) face a significant new obligation to report certain plan and employee information to the IRS, as well as provide a new health care statement to employees. Both fully-insured and self-funded employers are subject to the plan reporting requirements, with self-funded plans having additional employee coverage reporting obligations. Final forms and instructions will be released by the IRS prior to this webinar. This webinar will explain what information needs to be reported as well as provide guidance on the process.

Note: Small employers who do not meet the definition of an ALE and offer only fully-insured plans are not subject to these reporting requirements.

If you have questions about the webinars, please email Ann Hutson.  

Please contact our Employee Benefits Advisors if we can assist with any of your Employee Benefits needs.  
Watch for Our New Website -- Coming Soon!

Anything worth having is worth the wait, right?  We believe so! We'll be launching our new website soon!   Check us out ... and visit us on Facebook and LinkedIn too!
Winter Weather Preparation

Ready or not, here we go!  Be sure you're prepared for whatever winter might bring.  Below are a few of the steps you can take to prepare your home for winter, as well as address the most common problems that cause property damage to your business in the winter.

What should I do to prepare my home for winter?

Inside the home
*Have your furnace or boiler checked and serviced by a licensed contractor at least once a year, preferably before the heating season begins.
* Clean or replace the furnace filter, if necessary.
* Have your fuel tanks filled and keep an eye on levels throughout the winter.
* Set your heat no lower than 55 degrees - the temperature inside the walls where water piping is located is colder than the living spaces; open doors to unoccupied rooms to keep an even temperature throughout the house.  
Click here to read more.  

Outside the home
* Trim trees and remove dead branches so they do not damage your home or injure someone if they fall because of ice, snow or wind.
* Keep gutters clear of leaves, sticks and other debris to ensure melting snow can drain properly. Make sure downspouts direct water away from the foundation.
* Repair steps and handrails to make them safer in the ice and snow.
* Make sure you have snow shovels and a roof rake on hand.
Click here to read more. 

What can I do to avoid property damage to my business during the winter months?

*Visually inspect concealed spaces for gaps in wall materials; water pipes in these areas can freeze if unprotected
*Keep these spaces warmed to at least 50° F or use certified heat tape
* Sprinkler systems and related equipment *Keep building temperatures at 50° F for wet-pipe systems, including the enclosures housing a riser equipped with a dry pipe valve
*Dry pipe systems should be drained at the low point prior to the onset of cold weather
Click here to read more.
 
Courtesy of Hanover Risk Solutions and Travelers Insurance
Our Community Commitment
From supporting Project Graduation events at local high schools to sponsoring SLAM Diabetes tournaments to fight Type 1 Diabetes, Kinney Pike takes great pride in giving back to the community (many of who are our clients).  

In 2014, Kinney Pike donated nearly $20,000 to approximately 100 organization across Vermont and New Hampshire!   We strive to make a difference and contribute to the wonderful communities of Vermont and New Hampshire.  As one of the largest independent insurance agencies in the region, we are committed to supporting the growth of strong and connected cities and towns.
Giving Back During the Holidays  
Our little "elves" in our seven offices are busy preparing meals, wrapping gifts and donating food to families in need this holiday season.  Our employees donate $1 to a "jean fund" each Friday throughout the year, and donations are used to help those in need at the holidays.  Here's how our jean fund went to work in the community this holiday season:
 
  * Winter clothes and toys were purchased for two kids sponsored through the Burlington Salvation Army (see photos below)
  * Our White River Junction employees hosted a community dinner at the LISTEN Center in White River Junction (see photo below)
  * Rutland employees donated and volunteered at the annual Rutland Stuff a Bus event for the Vermont Food Bank
  * Our St. Johnsbury and Randolph offices donated to the local Food Shelves
 * The Poultney ladies purchased gifts for the Tree of Giving, sponsored by the Poultney Women's Club
  * In Swanton, we support the local Food Shelf, donate gifts on local church wish lists and to seniors through Kinney Drugs Christmas tree wish lists.  

    

 

                                                   
Get Rewarded for Your Referrals!
Earn up to $20 in gas cards! 
 
We value our clients and would like to reward you for your referrals, while thanking you for your loyalty and support!  
 
Here's how our Referral Program works:  
- Kinney Pike will reward you with a $10 gas card for every qualified referral that we quote on.
- We will reward you with an ADDITIONAL $10 gas card for each qualified referral that becomes a new client! 
- The reward is for new personal, commercial or group benefits coverage for a NEW Kinney Pike client.  
- A "qualified" referral is a prospect looking for the following types of coverage:
    * Home/condo/renter + auto insurance
    * Business insurance    
    * Life insurance
    * Any combination of the above

Thank you to all of our great clients who refer their friends/family to us.   We truly appreciate it!   
 
Questions?  Please email us, and we'll get right back to you!    


The employees and Principals of Kinney Pike Insurance would like to thank you for another successful year!  We sincerely appreciate your business, and value you as our client.  Wishing your and your loved ones a very happy holiday season!  


 

Doug Corman, Principal
 Peter Werner, Principal

Justin Barwood, Principal

                                                                                                
                                                                                                      800.296.5722 
 

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