Newsletters

Do You Know?

Do you know what you need to know about contracting?

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Determining the Right Retirement Plan

For architects, establishing a retirement plan for yourself and your firm if you have employees is one of the most important actions you can take. Selecting the right kind of plan for yourself is also critical.

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Managing Risk Through Contract Language

Managing Risk Through Contract Language, one of the professional liability risk management tools available from Victor Insurance Managers Inc., reviews contractual demands by clients that could increase exposure or compromise professional liability insurance coverage and provides commentary and alternatives.

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What’s Next

We’re all trying to figure out what’s next. Whether you’re considering a career move, an investment, or a retirement plan, it’s important to identify alternatives and their potential results – and plan ahead. If you want to make a change – whether it’s heading to the door for a well-deserved retirement or advancing your career…

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A’22 in Review

Highlights from our time at the AIA Conference on Architecture 2022 in the “Windy City”!

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Infrastructure Opportunity Knocks for Architecture Firms

The opportunity created by the federal stimulus packages passed since 2020 is undeniable, but the capacity to optimize this truly historic moment remains unclear. Firms can now find substantial opportunity in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of November 2021 – and business opportunities for those in the design and construction markets are enormous.

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AIA Climate Impact Survey

The rapidly changing climate is on everyone’s mind, whether the impact is felt with immediacy as severe weather in one’s own locality or the unease experienced from recent climate reports and increasing events that impact every place across the globe.  The message for architects is becoming clearer every day – that the profession has a…

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A’22 Roundtable: Practice Innovation

The AIA Center for Practice is hosting a firm roundtable discussion at the AIA Conference in Chicago, Rising Strategies for Practice Innovation, building on sessions held at A’18 and A’19. This extended Friday afternoon session will include presentations, facilitated roundtable discussions, and resources for practice innovation.

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Why is Insurance Important for Architects?

This Q & A interview with Mike Murphy, a licensed agent and President and CMO for Hagan Insurance Group, the administrator of the AIA Trust insurance programs for architects, helps to answer your questions about life and disability insurance.

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How to Budget for Retirement

As the pandemic continues, it’s not surprising that consumers are more anxious about achieving their retirement goals than they were pre-COVID. Nearly two-thirds state that they feel at least some concern over how they’ll maintain their lifestyle in retirement according to a 2020 Equitable Consumer Pulse Survey.

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Do You Know?

Do you know that most professional liability (PL) insurers offer a “pre-claim assistance” or “loss prevention” benefit to their PL policies?  When you are confronted with a difficult situation on a project that has not risen to the level of a “claim” (i.e., no one has asked you for money or services to take care…

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New AIA Trust Executive Director

After eleven years as a valued AIA staff member, Elizabeth Wolverton will leverage her skills, talents, and knowledge of the profession as the new executive director of the AIA Trust beginning in May.

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Climate Impact on Professional Liability

AIA’s 2021-2025 Strategic Plan states that the mission of AIA is to “inspire and empower architects to improve society and transform the world.”  A key tool to enabling architects to fulfill this mission is developing a better understanding of architect’s liability as the world changes around us.  And professional liability is evolving due to climate…

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Avoiding Fee Disputes

With the passage of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure act, architecture firms across the board can anticipate more work in the next few years. While the prognosis for the industry is positive, firms should take the time to establish meaningful fee collection practices so that they can remain financially solvent. Avoiding fee disputes with clients helps maintain…

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2021 Trends in Professional Liability Insurance

Together with the American Council of Engineering Companies, the National Society for Professional Engineers, and the American Institute of Architects, the AIA Trust participates in an annual insurance carrier interview and review of professional liability trends and risk management issues. Here’s a summary of the fall 2021 review.

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The Importance of Employee Benefits for Small Business

For small-business owners, the importance of employee benefits is a significant factor when it comes to attracting and retaining talent. The majority of workers prefer attractive types of employee benefits—like insurance, paid time off, and a retirement plan—over pay raises. Whether you’re competing for talent or keeping the high performers you already have, small-business employee…

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Optimize Your Savings in 2022

Most architects and their employees are actively contributing to a retirement plan. Regardless of your personal situation, it makes sense to review the type of retirement plan that you have as well as your individual savings plan for retirement to make sure that you are maximizing your potential savings. The type of retirement plan, investment…

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Meet the 2022 AIA Trust Chair

Amy Slattery, AIA, is the 2022 AIA Trust Chair. Amy is the Founder and CEO of Odimo, a growing architecture practice based in Kansas City, Missouri which received the 2019 AIA Kansas City Firm of the Year Award. Odimo was also a Top 10 Finalist for the Greater Kansas City Chamber Small Business of the…

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A New Sustainable Standard for Architects

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) is a system of criteria related to the environment, social equity, governance and supply chain practices that measure how investments and services can be scored and screened regarding sustainability. Why is this important  to you as a design professional? Let’s first define ESG.  The four components when considering ESG criteria…

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Do You Know?

Do you know that the importance of documentation cannot be overstated? From the outset of a project, it is important to have a signed written contract in place that clearly sets forth your scope of services, compensation, and anticipated schedule, as well as the legal terms and conditions governing your relationship with your client. State…

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