Newsletters
AIA Trust insurance programs are making efforts to assist AIA member insureds during this uncertain time. For example, New York Life Insurance Company has temporarily extended premium payment periods to ensure that impacted members continue to remain insured even if they are having difficulty making premium payments now. AIA members under age 50 can now…
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If you’re relatively new to practice, you may think that you can deal with retirement planning much later. But it takes years to accumulate the savings you’ll need for an ideal retirement. It’s well worth spending time now to strategize how you’ll get from here to there–even if retirement is many years in your future.…
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Many people assume that life insurance is only for married couples and those with kids. While it is true that all single people may not need life insurance, there are some important reasons to consider it. You have student loan debt. Debt doesn’t die with you. While the loans through the federal government are…
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With the start of the new year, the 2022 AIA Trust Component Grants Program guidelines are now available for your component to submit winning program ideas for grants up to $3,000 each. Submissions are due by April 4, 2022. More than $300,000 has been awarded directly to AIA Components for innovative programs that foster leadership…
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A new AIA Trust paper about the potential impact of the green design movement on the architect’s standard of care explores new risks and legal theories associated with green design and offers two case studies.
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If you’re an architect who is self-employed or receives 1099 income as an independent contractor, you know that it’s up to you to establish a retirement plan. But do you understand the various approaches available to you, such as an individual 401(k) plan, and which may best suit you and your situation? If you’ve done…
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Federal, state, and local governments in the United States see Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) as a means to implement critical infrastructure improvements, such as improved public roads, highways, and bridges, and construct municipal improvements, such as courthouses, airports, and higher education residential facilities, when they have no immediate way to fund them. While benefits abound for…
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According to a report by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, as baby boomers age, they will have to deal with one of the largest financial risks of their generation: the overwhelming majority of elderly Americans will require long-term care (LTC) in their lifetimes. The expenditure required for long-term care often exceeds retirement income and…
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In April 2018, the AIA Trust published The AIA Trust Guide to Marijuana Facilities Design which examines some of the necessary design considerations as well as the potential legal risks that a design professional may face in light of conflicting state and federal legal requirements. As these requirements continue to evolve, so do issues that…
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Financial wellness is one of the top trends in employee benefits right now because it has a good return on investment. When done right, it benefits both the employees of small businesses and their employers. It may seem like it’s outside the interest of employers to help employees deal with their individual financial issues. In…
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When running a firm, you need a business continuity plan to ensure orderly leadership transition in case one or more key people leave, no matter the reason. Leaders, whether owners or managers, may leave because of retirement, death, a disagreement over strategy, or a job opportunity at another firm. Planning is crucial–and an important part…
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As an architect saving towards retirement, you know that employer-sponsored plans, such as 401(k)s and IRAs, are the best ways to invest for retirement. While both are good options, if you’ve already maxed out your contributions to those accounts and want to save more, an annuity may be a good investment to investigate. …
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Everyone’s situation is different Mine began recently with a bunch of firsts: my first job, my first apartment and my first life insurance plan. I am now 25, single with no children, some disposable income–and life insurance coverage. How did this happen? The conversation began at work. I asked Bill, a colleague and mentor in…
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While you may have spent years developing a reliable specification based on research and product performance to be sure your work is exemplary, you may be asked to review proposed product substitutions with which you have limited knowledge or experience. Since you may be perceived as obstructionist if you object or viewed as approving the…
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Do good relationships drive success? Architects have many tools available as practitioners, but often cannot hear each other. How can we learn to truly and honestly exchange ideas and information with others? Isn’t good communication the key to good architecture? Find out some keys to beneficial communication and how to balance relationships to achieve professional…
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The AIA Trust workshop, How to Start & Run Your Own Firm offers practical, professional, ethical, legal and insurance tips for a new firm to start off right. In addition, be sure to check out the full-page website guide about how to Start a Firm — where you’ll find recommended benefit programs for your new…
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It can happen to anyone. An event on a system or network detected by a security device or application: malicious activity that is attempting to collect, disrupt, deny, degrade or destroy information system resources or the information itself. As an architect, if you don’t think you need cyber protection or don’t believe someone would want…
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The AIA Trust just published two guides that address some of the unique design issues associated with each of these growing areas of design and construction: marijuana facilities and craft breweries. The AIA Trust Guide to Marijuana Facilities Design examines some of the necessary considerations for the safe and efficient delivery of product to the…
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Floods can happen anywhere—more than 20% of flood claims come from properties outside the high-risk flood zone according to FEMA. Architects are impacted by floods through exposures at their offices, their homes, and their client’s properties. So it’s important to understand what flood insurance covers—and what it does not cover—and what you need for your…
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With everyone busier than ever, most of us are seeking a balance between our work and our personal lives. Technology now enables extensive communications and thereby opportunities that didn’t exist years ago. Nearly every practicing architect engages in some form of “virtual practice” today because responsibilities require it. So, is an entirely virtual practice now…
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