Insights (2024)

In this guide, we will delve into the key differences between benchmark positions and slot positions in a compensation study.

In this webinar, employment practices liability experts from NFP and Jackson Lewis will share insights on the challenges and timely guidance on how to overcome risks.

Expanding to the UK is an exciting step for your business, but the number of unique considerations and risks are something that you need to pay attention to.

In this guide, we will delve into the key differences between benchmark positions and slot positions in a compensation study.

In this webinar, employment practices liability experts from NFP and Jackson Lewis will share insights on the challenges and timely guidance on how to overcome risks.

Expanding to the UK is an exciting step for your business, but the number of unique considerations and risks are something that you need to pay attention to.

A recently filed lawsuit has increased awareness of the ERISA fiduciary obligations of employers in their role as group health plan sponsors, particularly the “duty of prudence” in selecting and monitoring health plan vendors.

On March 6, 2024, the IRS issued an alert (IR-2024-65) to remind taxpayers and health spending plan administrators that personal expenses for general health and wellness are not considered medical care. Therefore, these expenses are not reimbursable through health FSAs, HRAs, HSAs, and MSAs.As background, medical care expenses that are defined in Section 213(d) are generally eligible to be paid or reimbursed under health FSAs, HRAs, HSAs, and MSAs unless the expenses were reimbursed by an indi

On February 7, 2024, in Schinnerer v. Wellstar Health, Inc., the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Georgia denied the defendant’s motion for summary judgment on the issue of failing to timely provide a COBRA election notice. Although not a focus of this article, the court also addressed the defendant’s motion for summary judgment on the plaintiff’s False Claims Act retaliatory termination claim, which was granted.The plaintiff was an employee of the defendant from May 2020 to

In February 2024, the DOL issued several revised FMLA Fact Sheets to help employers better understand their compliance obligations under the FMLA. One such fact sheet is Fact Sheet #28J, which discusses how FMLA requirements are applied to airline flight crew employees, as it may be difficult for employers to easily calculate eligibility and leave entitlement for these employees.Pilots, co-pilots, flight attendants, flight engineers, and flight navigators are all considered to be airline fligh

In this webinar, employment practices liability experts from NFP and Jackson Lewis will share insights on the challenges and timely guidance on how to overcome risks.

If the deepfake technology is only to become more sophisticated, how can companies protect themselves from ever-evolving financial scams?

Having an employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) policy in place can protect employers against the potential financial burdens associated with claims arising from the employment relationship.

With the start of another year comes the evaluation of last year’s progress and making new goals. As you plan this year’s achievements, understanding today’s trends and market shifts offers you the opportunity to make better-informed decisions that lead to successful outcomes for your business.Moving into the first half of 2024, the H2 2023 Property and Casualty Trend Report and Claims Journal offers a recap on markets as they changed over the course of Q3 and Q4 and offers projections from ou

Despite rising interest rates and growing recessionary fears, private equity remains a popular class of investment for acquisition and ownership of closely held businesses.

The global construction market is currently experimenting with a wide variety of project delivery models to find the ideal mix of risk allocation between owners, design firms and contractors. Never have so many delivery models been actively used by owners in all major construction economies worldwide.Given this wide array of project delivery models in the market, how are construction stakeholders measuring the effectiveness of each model? Well, the answer to that question isn’t quite clear, as

Over the last several years, we’ve all gotten used to uncertainty in the macroeconomic environment. However, one factor has felt certain — it seems that each time central bankers meet, the federal funds rate increases another 25 ‒ 50 basis points.We’re currently experiencing interest rates that are higher than we’ve seen since the 1990s. Many effects, like higher prices at the pump, increased borrowing costs and the cooling of the housing market are immediately apparent to consumers. But these

On July 26, the SEC released new rules requiring registered companies to “disclose material cybersecurity incidents they experience and to disclose on an annual basis material information regarding their cybersecurity risk management, strategy and governance.”These major new rules for SEC-registered companies go into effect December 1, 2023. Review the SEC press release and fact sheet.Notable RequirementsThe new rules require public companies to:Disclose material cybersecurity breacheswi

In this guide, we will delve into the key differences between benchmark positions and slot positions in a compensation study.

Expanding to the UK is an exciting step for your business, but the number of unique considerations and risks are something that you need to pay attention to.

A recently filed lawsuit has increased awareness of the ERISA fiduciary obligations of employers in their role as group health plan sponsors, particularly the “duty of prudence” in selecting and monitoring health plan vendors.

A provocative new study that questions the value of common workplace wellness initiatives was released in the Industrial Relations Journal in January of 2024. After the study analyzed survey data from over 46,000 employees across 233 British organizations, the research found that outside of employee volunteer offerings, common well-being interventions like apps, resilience training, and meditation programs proved to have little to no clear benefits for workers.Before we ring the death knell fo

Over the last 30 years, there have been occasional interest rate blips up and down, but nothing has been as dramatic or impactful as the interest rate climate since 2008. Let’s dive into the details of how interest rates have affected BOLI assets.

A risk management issue often overlooked, or not fully understood, is losing a key employee to a competitor that’s offering a better compensation package.

Learn how NFP can help you protect the financial future of your employees – and your business – with an affordable employer-sponsored long-term care insurance program.

Going on a trip? Protect your investment with travel insurance.Travel insurance reimburses a policyholder if they become sick or injured while away from home, as well as additional coverage protecting personal items such as luggage. Coverage often includes:Medical evacuationTrip cancellationLost or damaged baggageTrip interruptionYet while you do have coverage for these events, it is not blanket, all-inclusive coverage. In fact, it is as important to understand what your travel insuranc

Do you know what your jewelry is worth?Be it your engagement ring from 1998 or the heirloom bracelet you just received from your grandmother; your jewelry could be worth more - in some cases, much more - than the value you placed on it when it was first insured. And while most policies adjust the cost by 1-5% for inflation, those increases may fall well short of the value of replacing or compensating for the actual value of your item.Especially now, with supply chain issues driving up the cos

A variety of winter weather conditions - including snow, slush, ice and sleet-can create hazards on the road. In fact, the U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that crashes stemming from these conditions result in 116,800 injuries and 1,300 fatalities each year.As such, employees who must get behind the wheel during winter-whether it's to make a delivery, transport materials or travel to the job site-should take additional precautions to stay safe. If you find yourself driving in advers

In a good first mortgage purchase/refinance market, home equity lending competes with first lien originations from an appraisal, title and servicing aspect. Yet appraiser shortages, staff burnout and fatigue, especially in the real estate market, are very real. In addition, borrowers lose jobs, get divorced or pass away and loans become delinquent. These life events are all things even the best underwriter cannot foresee.This seller's market is frenetic, with homes selling quickly. That is pus

In 2020, there were 30 named hurricanes and tropical storms - more than ever before - exhausting the official alphabetical list of hurricane names for just the second time. One hurricane alone - Hurricane Laura - caused $19 billion in damages.Yet as hurricanes become more frequent and more severe, so too are weather-related events across the country. A powerful derecho - likened to an inland hurricane - hit the central US in 2020, causing $11 billion in damages and went on record as one of the

In addition to protecting yourself against COVID-19, it's also critical to take precautions to avoid other illnesses, especially during flu season. While viruses can circulate year-round, flu activity tends to surge in the fall and winter months. During this time, there are several measures that you can implement to keep both yourself and others safe and healthy at work.Consider these best practices from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration amid flu season:Stay Home if You Feel S

A side effect of the ongoing pandemic has created an auto inventory shortage, which experts warned might happen. Thanks to a shortage of semiconductors, distribution issues, commercial driver shortages, and further production disruptions due to the resurgence in COVID-19 variants. The auto industry does not have enough cars to keep up with consumer demand.The shortage becomes apparent to anyone looking for a car. What would typically be an inventory of 200-300 new vehicles are now reduced to u

It's a revolution that seemed to ride in from out of nowhere. Electric bicycles - e-bikes - have exploded in popularity recently. Between 2020 and 2023, it's predicted that 130 million e-bikes will be sold.It is a far cry from just a few years ago. From 2006 through 2012, e-bikes made up just 1 percent of all annual bike sales . In 2013, only 185,000 e-bikes were sold in the US.Yet, with technology comes risk. Between January 2018 and September 2019, 10 people died from injuries sustained wh

While HSAs have grown in notoriety over time, their benefits are still underutilized by many Americans who have them.

When it comes to depositing employer contributions into qualified retirement plans, we are often asked what the deadline is for making these contributions. Believe it or not, that is not an easy question to answer.

In the current high-stress economy, American workers are growing more and more concerned with their retirement.According to a new Pew Research study, without changes, the retirement-savings gap, or the difference between the amount of money needed for a comfortable retirement and individuals’ actual savings, could create a $1.3 trillion dollar economic burden through 2040. Many Americans simply aren’t able to save enough for retirement — 61% of elderly households are projected to have an annua

Rising inflation and the sharpest increase in U.S. interest rates since 1994 have contributed to a widespread sense of unease as many retirement fund participants watch their savings dissolve.That's the opinion of Nick Della Vedova, a president at NFP Retirement, and Jeff Elvander, chief investment officer at NFP Retirement, who authored an article for MarketWatch.Uncertainty is an ideal market environment for investors to consider how a target-date fund '” equipped with professional manageme

Just two years ago, clients were entering into loan arrangements or installment sale transactions with their trusts in order to lock in those seemingly low interest rates of less than 3%. As we've watched the AFRs continue to drop, savvy clients have been inquiring into the possibility of refinancing their existing transactions. With the ability to lock-in a nearly 1% interest rate for the duration of the transaction, there's never been a better time to refinance.Given that the rate reduction

If you oversee a pension, cash balance or even a 401(k) plan, my bet is that until around mid-March you felt investment returns, while positive, were somewhat disappointing. While you acted as a good fiduciary - constructing a prudently diversified portfolio or plan menu - stocks rose in nearly unabated fashion from 2009 until the pandemic took root in the U.S., resulting in the swiftest move to bear market territory in history. Moreover, March was the most volatile month ever for stocks!Beyon

One of the most powerful tools in the IRA owner’s toolkit has been the ability to stretch an inherited IRA over the beneficiary’s lifetime, potentially mitigating income tax rates while leaving the majority of the assets to take advantage of tax-free accumulation. However, the new year saw the death of the “Stretch IRA.”The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act was signed into law by President Trump on December 20, 2019, and is effective as of January 1, 2020 (for

Defined contribution plans, more specifically, 401(k) plans, have become one of the primary savings options for Americans. The employers who sponsor these retirement plans are now trusted partners for employees. Such trust developed over many years as Plan Sponsors created valuable benefit programs by integrating health and wealth initiatives. With 76 million Baby Boomers approaching retirement or already retired, Sponsors migrating their plans from the single focus of a savings and wealth accu

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