The Real Value of Pre-claims Assistance and Profitability

Disputes happen. Dissatisfied clients, construction firms with cost-recovery programs, injured third parties and other claimants often try to tap into the assets of professional service firms—and their insurers—to solve a real or perceived problem.
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Saving Money for AIA Members

The AIA Trust is once again awarding a premium credit to policyholders in the AIA Firm Term Life Insurance Plan for employees. Since the year 2000, the AIA Trust has given more than $800,000 premium credits to participating members of the various AIA Trust life and disability insurance plans. This averages approximately $75,000 per year in credits for AIA policyholders. Are you one of them? Read more »

Risk Management Tools for You & Your Firm

Architects confront risks daily—and the risks are real and substantial. From working with employees and maintaining an office to working with clients and contractors on job sites to regulatory requirements that frequently change—risks are ubiquitous. In its role as a free risk management resource for AIA members, the AIA Trust works with a host of important participants in the risk management arena. Often, the result of these working relationships is reports and resources on vital topics of interest to AIA Members—ranging from the annual survey of the professional liability insurance industry to white papers on vital topics of architectural practice. Read more »

2012 AIA Trust CNA-Schinnerer Component Grants Program Announced

Just announced is the 2012 AIA Trust CNA-Schinnerer Component Grants Program which over the past 12 years has awarded $200,000 to AIA Components for their innovative programs.

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IRS Benefit and Contribution Limits for Retirement Plans

Considering the country’s current budget deficit crisis and given such factors as the formation of a so-called “Super Committee” charged with identifying reductions over the next ten years, it is inevitable that the tax deductibility of contributions to qualified retirement plans will come under the scrutiny of legislators.  One such proposal recently considered by the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction was known as the “20-20 proposal” and would have limited Annual employer and employee retirement plan contributions to 20 percent of compensation or $20,000 whichever is lower.   Read more »

Employer-Provided Benefits Boost Firm Success

In the wake of the nation’s current economic challenges, more employees are reevaluating their benefits and are looking to their employers to help them with their financial security. It may be surprising that in that same survey, 65 percent of employees say other insurance benefits (life, dental, disability, vision, etc.) are important factors to keeping them loyal. Offering your employees good benefits, including salary, health care coverage, and retirement incentives are key to retaining your top employees and in return, contribute to your firm’s success. Read more »

The Advantages of Securing Your Family’s Future

How do you ensure your family maintains their standard of living if they have to live without you and without your income? When there isn’t enough life protection, surviving loved ones often face very difficult circumstances, having to take out loans, move to smaller, less expensive housing, work additional jobs or longer hours, or forego a child’s higher education. Read more »

Parking Lot Safety

While parking lots may not be the most hazardous places to drive, they can be the most unpredictable. Parking lots can be as open as the plains of the Midwest or as bumper-to-bumper as a city street during rush hour. Drivers seem to suspend their good judgment when looking for a parking space. Some consider the Stop and Yield signs as optional because parking lots are on private property and not subject to traffic laws; others ignore the traffic lanes to cut diagonally across the lot. Read more »