As of January 1, 2018, New York State will make mandatory of all NY employers a Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefit which will be included in an employer’s already mandatory NYS Disability insurance coverage.
Family leave use is by definition and can be an employees’ leave to provide care for a family member, time to bind with the employee’s child, or leave taken arising out of the fact a spouse, domestic partner, child or parent of an employee is on active duty or called to impending order to active duty in the U.S.Armed Forces (as defined under the Federal FMLA). (Please see the attached for definition of a covered family member and detail on all of the foregoing topics).
The premium for this this benefit will be entirely funded by Employee payroll deductions, currently set at no more than 0.126% of an employee’s weekly wages (not to exceed $1.65 per week contribution). The insurance carriers have the right to amend this premium annually.
NY Paid Family Leave will be phased in beginning January 1, 2018 over a 4 year period with benefits increasing each year from 8 weeks of paid benefit to 12 weeks by January 1, 2021 and benefit amount of 50% of the employees average weekly wage, not to exceed the state’s average weekly wage up to 67% by January 1 2021.
As of July 1, 2017, smaller employers who pay DBL premiums each month may begin to deduct and accrue the employee contribution; larger employers who pay their DBL premiums quarterly in arrears may wait until January 2018 to begin deductions.
There is certain criteria for an Employer to comply (a covered employer must have 1 or more employees on each of 30 days in a calendar year) and employee eligibility is also defined as well for both full time and part time employees (a FT employee must work 20 hours or more per week for the covered employer for 26 or more consecutive weeks; part time working fewer than 20 hours per week would be eligible if employed by covered employer for 175 days).
Please note that some of the rules and regulations are still being formulated by NYS Department of Financial Services (Insurance Dept.)
At Signature B&B Companies we are making every effort to keep you informed with the latest information.
Contact us immediately with any questions about this or any other compliance topic.
If you want to sell your agency or buy an agency then you need to understand what is EBITDA.
Some people mistake EBITDA for an agency’s revenue or cash flow. Sure, revenue is part of it but there is more to your valuation. Let’s unpack this thing and understand its place in mergers and acquisitions.
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depriciation and Amortization is what makes up EBITDA.
When The Signature B&B Companies were acquired by Acrisure there was, as you would imagine in a transaction of that size, quite a bit of due diligence. We started by examining our own financial statement.
If you have questions, like “what happens after you calculate your EBITDA?” feel free to give us a call at 516.764.1100.
This regulation applies to every business operating in NY and required to have a “license, registration, charter, certificate, permit, accreditation or similar authorization” under banking, insurance or financial services law.
While these regulations are similar in many ways to existing cybersecurity guidelines, the NYC500 takes things a step further. Outside counsel, accountants, IT firms and other Third Party Service Providers (3PSPs) must also implement policies and procedure to ensure the security of Information Systems and Non Public Information.
Covered entities and their 3PSPs must establish:
A comprehensive Cybersecurity program that performs the 6 core cybersecurity functions
An organization must protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of its information systems. In order to accomplish this, firms must establish a Cybersecurity program that is able to effectively identify, defend against, detect, respond to, recover and report Cyber Threats.
A comprehensive Cybersecurity policy that addresses 14 specific areas
Every organization faces three main threat vectors:
Outside attacks
Insider Threats
Third Party Incidents
In order to protect against these threats, organizations must set forth policies and procedures for the protection of its Information Systems and Nonpublic Information stored on these systems. Securing data inventory across all systems and devices is crucial to protecting customer data privacy.
Once systems and networks are secured and physical and environmental controls are established, an organization’s policies and procedures must be constantly monitored and updated via risk assessments.
Covered entities are also responsible for establishing Third Party Service Provider management that ensures vendors with access to Information Systems and Non Public Information are implementing New York Cybersecurity policies mirroring that of the covered entity.
NYC500 Cybersecurity policies must also contain business continuity and disaster recovery planning and resources. These incident response mechanisms need to include procedures for accurately reporting data events to the Department of Financial Services in timely matter.
Cyber Security Personnel (CISO) to manage 6 core functions of Cybersecurity program
The Chief Information Security officer must be a qualified individual employed by the entity, affiliate or Third Party and is responsible for implementing, overseeing and enforcing the Cybersecurity program. If the Covered Entity elects to use a 3rd party CISO, the covered entity retains responsibility for compliance, must designate a senior staff member responsible for oversight of 3rd party and the 3rd party must maintain a cybersecurity program that protects the covered entity.
The CISO must report on the Covered Entity’s Cybersecurity program and cybersecurity risks in writing annually to the board of directors or equivalent company management. These reports must consider systems integrity, material risks, cybersecurity policies and procedures, effectiveness of cybersecurity program along with all material Cybersecurity Events involving the covered entity.
Periodic Cybersecurity Risk Assessments
Assessing your Cybersecurity policy must include periodic vulnerability testing and periodic penetration testing. Periodic Risk Assessments must also evaluate risks, assess adequacy of controls and document decisions to mitigate or accept risk.
Audit Trails
Covered entities must maintain secure systems that are designed to reconstruct financial transactions. These audit trails are designed to detect and respond to Cybersecurity events that have a reasonable likelihood of harming any material part of CE’s normal operations.
While covered entities must maintain records for at least five years, they are also responsible for destroying Non Public Information in a responsible and timely manner.
Incident Response Plans
Organizations must establish a written Incident Response Plan (IRP) to respond to and recover from Cybersecurity events affecting confidentiality, integrity or availability of the Covered Entity’s Information Systems and Nonpublic Information.
An Incident Response plan must include internal and external processes, goals, role and responsibility definitions, system remediation and documentation and reporting mechanisms for incident related response actions.
Cyber Incident Reporting
Covered Entities must notify the Superintendent, no later than 72 hours, after notification is required by another regulatory agency or supervisory body and when the Cyber Event has a reasonable likelihood of materially harming any part of normal operations.
Annually, all covered entities must certify in writing that the organization is in compliance with all reporting guidelines set forth in the regulation. Organizations are required to maintain information and evidence necessary to support this certification for a period of 5 years. If a covered entity has identified areas which require improvements or updating, the organization must document the remedial efforts planned or underway
While no organization can eliminate their exposure to Cyber Risk entirely, taking a proactive, comprehensive approach to Cyber Risk Management will ensure that your company is not only compliant with the new NYC500 Regulatory guidelines but also resilient in the face of constantly evolving Cyber threats.
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Chubb recently awarded 33 insurance agents and brokers the Certified Advisor of Personal Insurance (CAPI) designation.
This program is designed to address the needs fo the high-net-worth household. Larger wage earners tend to live and play harder, this requires an insurance program to protect them from possible loss.
We, at Signature B&B and Acrisure, are very pleased to announce that our own Gerry Tobias, Partner, was one of the agents to receive the CAPI designation.
“We couldn’t be more proud of our Partner, Gerry. The CAPI program is extremely competitive and selective and Gerry’s designation is just one more example of the highly specialized, value added services we bring to our clients”, said Peter Schapero, Managing Partner.
The curriculum for the CAPI consists of six modules related to the needs of the high-net-worth family. It is a 12 month course of study during which students must complete a project to demonstrate their mastery of the curriculum.
The courses, taught by Wharton faculty and Chubb subject matter experts, include “Understanding the Total Family Balance Sheet”, “Collections” (art, jewelry, wine, etc.), and”Family Security”.
“Agents who have completed the CAPI program have demonstrated a full understanding of high-net-worth customers, including their financial affairs, family management and philanthropic activities,” said Annmarie Camp, Executive Vice President, Chubb Personal Risk Services.
The Signature B&B Companies have always put a premium on education and personal development. This is done by reimbursing all of our employee’s Continuing Education courses and through our Tuition Reimbursement Program.
After growing up in the insurance business with modest means, it gives me great pride to be asked to serve as a Director for the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island.
Having experienced a financial event as an Acrisure Agency Partner, I am very fortunate to now be in a position to give back, not only monetarily, but with whatever intellectual property there is for me to share.
This is especially fulfilling as it helps such a worthy organization that aligns with values that are important to my family and me; making sure children and families are able to receive help when they’re in need.
A good friend once mentioned, “it’s good to take with one hand, but great to give back with the other,” and I look forward to all of the ways I will be able to give back to the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island.
As I’m sure you’re aware the RMHC allow families to stay together during times of great illness. The House was built on the foundation that nothing else should matter when a family is dealing with the health of a child.
Our homes are filled with more than help, they’re filled with hope
Every House provides the following services for families:
Home-cooked meals
Private bedrooms
Playrooms for children
The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island sits on the campus of the Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York. Since it opened its doors in 1986, the House has welcomed over 18,000 families from over 80 countries.
You’re invited to take a virtual tour of the House and see our 2-year 44,000 sq. ft. renovation we recently completed. This would not have been possible if not for the private and public donations of time or money.
If you don’t know LIREG, we’re nearly 400 real estate owners, developers, managers and allied trades who come together to raise money for charitable real estate related projects and networking.
As a founding member, I’ve been involved with LIREG for over 10 years, the last two as Co-President. During this time we’ve raised more than $1,000,000 for charities across Long Island. In 2016, we contributed $134,500 to five Long Island charities.
School for Language and Communication Development (SCLD), Glen Cove. The Glen Cove-based organization, whose mission is to identify children with language and autism spectrum disorders and to help them to communicate, received $51,000. The funds will be used for renovation of a preschool and elementary school playground at a school SCLD operates in New Hyde Park.
Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN), Hempstead. The charity, which addresses hunger and homelessness on Long Island by providing food and shelter, received $30,000. The money will help pay for the design and installation of a family dining room at the Mary Brennan INN in Hempstead.
Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, Greenvale. The Island’s leading voice for the performing arts on Long Island since 1980, received $27,500 to upgrade the assistive listening system used by patrons with hearing loss at the Tilles Center Concert and Recital Halls on the CW Post Campus.
Response of Suffolk County, Stony Brook. The operator of a crisis intervention and suicide prevention hot line received $25,000 to upgrade the working environment at the organization’s offices.
Giving to these charities and others that we have contributed to over the years is particularly rewarding. These contributions demonstrate how seriously the Long Island Real Estate Group regards its efforts to make a difference on Long Island.
Being an Agency Partner with Acrisure has afforded the opportunity to continue pursuing our Charitable and Civic interests. We are truly thankful to have found an organization of growth oriented leaders that value the wisdom of leveraging strengths while maintaining the entrepreneurial spirit & culture of its members.
