Covid-19 Update

/in , /by

THE AYRES GROUP – SERVING OUR CUSTOMERS

At The Ayres Group, we value our customers, community and employees. We are cooperating with the guidance provided by our State and Federal Governmental Authorities.  Effective Monday, March 23rd all Ayres Group offices will be closed to the general public. In-person transactions are by appointment only.

Like other businesses, we have chosen to have an appointment only format for “in person” transactions. If someone needs to make a payment and is not able to do so online, we will allow customers to drop off check and cash payments. They will need to call ahead and/or ring the doorbell by the entrance of the building.  Someone will meet them at the door to accept their payment. We will still be answering our phones and responding to e-mails as usual to handle all your insurance needs, but are trying to do our part with limiting public contact to protect our employees as well as our customers.  In good times and in difficult times, we are there for you.  We are all in this together.

Servicing Your Needs

Customers can contact The Ayres Group through the following ways:

The Ayres Group agents are available to assist you with your insurance needs. If you prefer to call or send a message, you can do so through our website.

Online Account Access is Available

Our online bill pay is available 24/7 to access and pay bills, check on the status of claims and view your policy documents.

We encourage you to stay up to date and informed as the COVID-19 situation evolves. For additional information about COVID-19, visit cdc.gov.

Thank you for being an Ayres Group client.

Marketplace Circle of Champions Recognizes Robert Hile

/in /by

October 2, 2019, Sturgis, MI – Robert Hile has been recognized for his hard work and expertise in helping consumers enroll in and manage qualified health coverage through the 2019 Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment Period.

This nationwide recognition from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a member of the 2019 Marketplace Circle of Champions highlights Robert Hiles success in increasing access to health care and making a lasting positive impact on our community.

“Consumers turn to agents and brokers for trusted advice and guidance in selecting plans, enrolling in coverage, and managing their health insurance policies throughout the year,” said Randy Pate, Director of Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) operation within CMS, which oversees the Marketplace. “We thank Robert Hile for his hard work and exceptional service in helping Americans get coverage.”

The Marketplace Circle of Champions program recognizes the hard work, expertise, and service of Marketplace-registered agents and brokers. Agents and brokers who assist 20 or more consumers qualify for the Marketplace Circle of Champions.

About Robert HileRobert Hile is a Licensed Agent in Property, Casualty, Life & Health with 30 years of insurance industry experience. Robert holds the FIC and LUTCF insurance designations is a business partner of Sturgis Public Schools and Sturgis City Commissioner.

About The Ayres Group
The Ayres Group team of seasoned insurance professionals provides our greatest competitive advantage with most having more than 20 years of experience. Many of our account executives and service associates hold the prestigious Certified Insurance Counselor and Certified Insurance Service Representative designations.

The staff of The Ayres Group adheres to the highest standard of integrity. Our mission is to be a trusted insurance advisor and advocate for our clients.

123 W. Hatch Street P.O. Box 278 Sturgis, MI 49091

Ph: 269-651-1761 800-343-2152

Jeff Mohney Honored as 30-Year Member

/in /by

Sturgis Journal – October 1, 2019

Society of Certified Insurance Counselors recently honored Jeff Mohney of Ayres Insurance with a certificate honoring his 30 years of faithful participation in advanced education.

Money earned the designation through a series of rigorous examinations and has maintained his CIC designation by annual attendance at an approved CIC continuing education program. Only 2 percent of insurance agents in the country have obtained the CIC designation.

“The professional dedication and commitment represented by Jeff sets the standard within our industry,” said Dr. William T. Hold, president of the society. “This 30-year accomplishment signifies a career of active leadership in advanced education. Jeff’s emphasis on professional development positively reflects on the insurance profession as a whole.”

20 car crash tips and things you should know after an accident

/in , , /by

Consider yourself lucky — or perhaps overdue — if you’re an adult who has never been in a car accident.

Consider that in 2015 alone, more than 2.4 million people were injured and nearly 35,000 people died in 6.2 million crashes nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

It follows that the Insurance Information Institute says the number and severity of automobile accidents has been on an uptick in recent years, and the consumer website carinsurance.com reports that adult drivers in the U.S. will file a car collision claim approximately once every 18 years.

That means the average American will have three or four auto accidents in a lifetime.

If there is a silver lining, it’s this: Most car collisions aren’t deadly.

Behind the numbers

Here are some additional U.S. car accident statistics include from U.S. DriverKnowledge.com:

  • More than 90 people die in car accidents each day in the U.S.
  • Another three million are injured, with about two million of those experiencing long-term or permanent injuries.
  • Wearing a seatbelt reduces your risk of death by 45% and your risk of serious injury by 50% yet among the total fatal accidents, 48.1% were not wearing a seat belt.
  • The primary causes of accidents which result in a fatality include alcohol, speeding and reckless driving — the primary causes of accidents which do not result in a fatality include distracted driving and driving while fatigued.
  • About nine people each day are killed as a result of distracted driving.
  • You are 23 times as likely to crash if you text while driving.
  • Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by a whopping 37%.

What to do following a car accident

Auto accidents are always unexpected, and always stressful.

Even if you are a very careful driver, you can still be involved in a car collision.

If you are involved in a car accident, there are certain steps you should take to minimize adverse outcomes. Here are eight of them:

  1. To the extent possible, stay calm following your accident. Take a deep breath, check for injuries, and call an ambulance. Even if you think you are “fine,” it is a good idea to either let the ambulance transport you to the hospital or to immediately go see your physician. Accidents cause your body to be flooded with adrenaline, which can mask pain, yet once the adrenaline wears off, you may realize you were injured and you are not fine.
  2. If the accident is minor, and it will not put anyone in jeopardy to do so, move the cars involved in the accident to a safe place. Turn on hazard lights when necessary.
  3. Call the police. Even if your accident is minor, and even if the other party tries to persuade you to just “handle it among yourselves,” don’t skip this step! Without a police report, you may find it extremely difficult to convince your insurance company you were not at fault and to pay for your injuries and damages.
  4. Keep track of all medical expenses, including prescriptions, all doctor bills, chiropractic services, rehabilitative services, etc.
  5. Take photos of the scene of the accident, if you are able, including photos of the damage to both vehicles.
  6. If you are physically able, make notes as soon as possible about the accident. These notes should include the name, phone number, license plate number and insurance information about the other person, as well as witness contact information.
  7. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible after your accident. Give your insurance company the basic facts of the accident.
  8. If it turns out that you must file a civil claim to recoup your losses (medical expenses, damage to your vehicle, lost wages, etc.), it can be very helpful to make a list of questions to ask a lawyer after your accident.

What not to do after a car accident

There are also things you should avoid doing after a car accident. These include:

  1. Never admit responsibility for the accident, even if you think it might have been your fault, or even partially your fault. Even saying “I’m sorry” to the other party could potentially be misconstrued as an admission of fault, so avoid saying anything that could sound like you are saying the accident was your fault.
  2. Never sign any document without speaking to an attorney first.
  3. Never agree to allow the insurance company to record your conversation without speaking to an attorney (you are not required by law to allow your conversation to be recorded).
  4. Never, ever leave the scene of the accident, particularly when there are injuries, or you could face criminal charges for hit-and-run.
  5. Never discuss your accident on social media, and, in fact, don’t talk to anyone about the accident other than your own attorney, your own insurance company and the police. Avoid talking to a representative of another insurance company without discussing it with your own insurer and/or your attorney.

Knowledge is power

Taking the right steps after a car accident can help keep you safe, and can ensure you will receive an equitable settlement for your injuries and damages to your vehicle.

Knowing how to handle an automobile collision also can help you and your family remain calm during an otherwise stressful situation.

Consumers also should know that they never have to manage a car accident alone. An experienced auto accident attorney will ensure your rights are protected, and that valuable evidence is not destroyed.

Crafting a business owners policy

/in , /by

How can agents ensure that they’re guiding small business owners to the best business owners policy available?

Business owners can be some of agents’ best clients. They understand that they need insurance, and they rely on agents and brokers’ expertise to guide them to the best business owners policy (BOP) available. But given the many fact-specific situations for most small businesses, how should agents ensure that they’re providing solid recommendations?

“It’s critical that an agent has knowledge of the industry that the client is in,” says Richard A. Savino, principal and managing partner at Broadfield Group, based in Warwick, N.Y. “Depending on that industry, the questions may vary as they relate to the coverage required.”

There are questions that apply in all cases, he adds. The agent should start with “COPE” (construction, occupancy, protection and exposure) questions regarding the ownership or occupancy of real property. “When it comes to liability, different industries have different rating bases, which could be gross sales, payroll or square footage,” he explains.

“The assumption, unfortunately, is that a BOP covers everything, but this can’t be further from the truth,” Savino says. “Each industry has unique coverage issues that may be addressed on a limited basis or not at all.”

Employee issues

If the business has employees, then workers’ compensation coverage is required in many states as is disability coverage. Agents need to be aware of the limitations and exclusions in the state-specific policies, and they need to ask detailed questions about the client’s business to add the appropriate coverage, such as employment practices liability or professional liability, for instance.

But what happens when a business has remote employees as so many do now, on either a part-time or full-time basis? The most significant issue, Savino says, is harmonizing workers’ comp coverage across multiple states. This can also be an issue if your business is located near a state border and your employees cross state lines to work every day.

“Remote employees also pose risks for cyber breaches when they work from a home office or public space like a hotel or coffee shop,” says Savino. Business owners need to consider insuring the employee’s equipment, such as a smartphone, tablet or computer, and they may need to cover the contents of an employee’s home office in some situations. They need liability insurance to protect against actions by the employee that could cause harm. If the employee has a company car, the business owner needs coverage for the vehicle. If the employee uses a personal vehicle on company business, the owner should have coverage for a non-owned auto in case the employee is in an accident while on the clock.

Some business owners don’t have their own dedicated work space but they and their employees use a location like We Work or another shared office space. “The arrangement should be treated as any other location that is leased or rented by the business,” Savino explains. As with any other lease, you should give your agent a copy of your lease agreement so the agent can confirm that your policy meets the lease requirements for coverage.

Cyber coverage

Many small business owners are convinced that cyberattacks or data breaches won’t happen to them. There are bigger, wealthier companies that should be targets. But the sad reality is that any business that has customer data is vulnerable.

So how should insurance agents explain the issue to their small business owner clients? “The first thing I do is remove the mystery,” says Savino. “I go on to quickly explain its coverage for personal and identifiable information. A few years ago clients saw this as an additional expense and were reluctant. Now with breach issues in the news constantly it’s an easy conversation. This thing to be careful of is that this coverage, which has been added or is an option on the BOP, is often limited coverage.”

Savino also notes certain concerns in working with his business owner clients. Primarily, owners are reluctant to spend what they need to at times to have a well-rounded program. Because agents can’t act as unlicensed attorneys, owners often need to engage legal counsel to round out their risk management program, which is the case with contractors. There is often push back as they don’t want to spend the money to pay the lawyers.

The other issue Savino faces is that many of the products start to look the same, which causes a potential client to look more at the price than at the actual product. “This is when knowing the client’s industry is an advantage for an agent who is versed in coverage and less concerned about beating a price, he says.”

Equipment breakdown risk is on the rise

/in , /by

Equipment breakdown now rivals fire loss in both frequency and severity of claims, according to an analysis of large risk losses reported in 2018 to FM Global.

Large risk losses are those losses greater than $3 million that do not include natural hazard loss.

FM Global said in a statement that of its 232 large risk losses last year, 65 were the result of equipment breakdown, resulting in 28% of FM Global losses across all industries in 2018 based on gross loss dollar amount.

“A large number of those equipment breakdown losses last year could have been prevented. However, in a booming economy, many companies aren’t necessarily taking their facilities offline for preventive maintenance, often choosing instead an expensive roll of the dice rather than a more conservative bet,” said Brion Callori, FM Global senior vice president of engineering and research.

“Unfortunately, that strategy only works for so long before problems arise that can lead to expensive repairs, decreased revenue, and potential market-share loss for companies that can’t fill orders when their equipment breaks,” he continued.

Large losses

Other key findings from the 2018 review of large risk losses include:

  • 62% of equipment breakdown losses were due to lack of maintenance, accounting for three-quarters of all equipment loss claims paid.
  • 25% of equipment breakdown losses occurred after repairs were made or during startup.
  • Nearly half of all equipment breakdown losses had a significant human element impact or influence.
  • Operator training was a factor in 43% of equipment losses, highlighting the need for enhanced training and knowledge transfer as the industry sees significant turnover due to demographic changes.

“During the last five years we’ve seen increasing numbers of losses from equipment breakdown, especially in the pulp and paper, chemical, electric utility and mining industries,” said Callori. “Importantly, our analytics tools, based on thousands of location site visits by our loss prevention engineers over many years, continue to accurately predict large losses. While our data also shows those large losses diminish as engineering site visits and client tenure increase, if companies don’t take measures to prevent equipment breakdown, they put their business resilience at risk.”

Later this year, FM Global said, it will expand its industrial control systems service, which will broaden loss prevention engineering, including cybersecurity, to encompass the software and hardware that controls clients’ industrial systems.

In April 2019, FM Global announced its plan to hire 60 seasoned engineers dedicated to helping clients prevent equipment breakdown-related losses. Once these additional engineers are hired, FM Global will have more than 250 engineers dedicated exclusively to major equipment such as boilers, turbines, generators, transformers, chemical vessels, compressors, and pulp and paper processing machines.

A.W. Ayres Recognized for Outstanding Performance

/in /by

Ayres Insurance has been named a Leading Partner by EMC Insurance Companies, which means the agency is one of the highest performing EMC agencies in the country. This designation places the agency in the top 20 percent of all EMC agencies nationally.

The Leading Partner award is based on an agency’s performance against all other EMC agencies nationally. Key factors are customer service, retention, profitability and growth. 

“We are proud to partner with EMC and are very pleased to be recognized for this award”, said Jeff Mohney, agency president.

For more information on The Ayres Group visit: theayres-group.com

A.W. Ayres Agency Recognized for Exceptional Customer Commitment and Service

/in /by

A.W. Ayres Insurance was selected for The Hanover Insurance Group’s President’s Club, an elite group of independent insurance agencies from across the country.

The Hanover’s President Club agencies are recognized for delivering outstanding value to their customers through their insurance expertise and responsive service.

Hanover partners with a select group of 2,300 independent agents nationwide. Ayres was one of only 120 independent agencies recognized with this distinction.

“We are proud to partner with the great team at Ayres,” said Richard W. Lavey, president, Hanover Agency Markets. “They are truly committed to serving their customers, offering valued counsel and high-quality insurance expertise.”

The agency was formally recognized for its inclusion in the company’s President’s Club during a national business conference in Bluffton, South Carolina.

“It’s a great honor to be named again to the Hanover’s President Club,” said Jeff Mohney, agency president.

For more information on the Ayres Group visit: https://www.theayres-group.com/

Robert Hile recognized for helping consumers with qualified health coverage

/in /by

Ayres Group Agent Robert Hille recognized for helping consumers with qualified health coverage

January 25, 2019

Sturgis Michigan – Robert Hile has been recognized for his hard work and expertise in helping consumers enroll in and manage qualified health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

This nationwide recognition from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a member of the 2019 Marketplace Circle of Champions highlights [Agent/Broker Name’s] success in enrolling 20 or more consumers during this Open Enrollment Period.

“Consumers turn to agents and brokers for trusted advice and guidance in selecting plans, enrolling in coverage, and managing their health insurance policies throughout the year,” said Randy Pate, Director of Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) operation within CMS, which oversees the Marketplace. “We thank [Agent/Broker Name] for [his/her/its] hard work and exceptional service in helping Americans get coverage.”

The Marketplace Circle of Champions program recognizes the hard work, expertise, and service of Marketplace-registered agents and brokers. Agents and brokers who assist 20 or more consumers qualify for the Marketplace Circle of Champions.

Eligible consumers can enroll in Marketplace coverage during this year’s Open Enrollment Period, which runs November 1 – December 15, 2019. Consumers with questions about their coverage or who would like help enrolling can contact Robert Hile at The Ayres Group.

Driving on Black Ice

/in /by

Although snow can make winter driving difficult, it’s not the real threat. Icy roads are one of the top causes of car accidents in the United States, and cause hundreds of deaths each year. It’s easy to lose control of your car when the roads are icy, and is difficult to gain control again. There aren’t any fool-proof ways to avoid black ice, but you can certainly protect yourself by understanding and knowing how to deal with this seasonal issue!

  • Know where to expect black ice

    Black ice is generally formed when a light rain or drizzle falls on a road surface that is below freezing and is most common at night or in the early morning when temperatures are at their lowest. Watch out for bridges and underpasses, road areas shaded by the sun, or low-lying areas that may have standing water or runoff from nearby melting snow banks.

  • Look for black ice (when you can)

    If lighting conditions are right, a driver might be able to spot ice on the road. If the majority of the road you are driving on appears to be a dull color except for one section that appears to be shiny, odds are, the glossy area is ice. Keeping headlights on might help provide that visible shine.

  • Check your tire tread

    Use the penny test to check treads — if you can see Lincoln’s head, get new tires! If not, you’re good to go.