Voluntary benefits have emerged as a key differentiator for small businesses looking to stay competitive in attracting and retaining employees. These benefits, which are offered in addition to group health insurance and 401(k) plans, allow employees to opt in to coverage that fits their unique needs, often with little or no cost to the employer.…
As commercial property insurance rates have climbed steadily in the last five years, insurers have been increasing deductibles, sometimes for all risks, but sometimes for specific perils, such as hail. Often, business owners fail to notice these increased deductibles until they file a claim. Sometimes, their dollar-amount deductible has been replaced by a deductible that…
Congratulations to Our Distinguished Employee Award Recipient! Lori Wagner Receptionist / Office Coordinator, Administration Walnut Creek Office Each year, InterWest recognizes employees who are identified by their co-workers as having demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to their clients, workmates as well as their community. This partnership between work and giving back makes them stand out…
Congratulations to 2025 Thomas G. Williams Chairman’s Award recipients! Each year, we honor exceptional broker performance with this award, named after the visionary who founded InterWest in 1992. Your dedication, and hard work have set a new benchmark for excellence. We are incredibly proud of your achievements and grateful for your contributions to our success.…
Poor health insurance literacy among plan enrollees costs both them and plan sponsors billions of dollars each year, according to a new report by Cigna Healthcare. According to the report, Americans with poor knowledge of how their health insurance works are twice as likely to be stressed about their health, which can worsen any health…
The Department of Labor on May 1, 2025, announced it would no longer enforce a Biden-era rule on independent contractors, setting the stage for a drastic overhaul that will likely result in a more employer-friendly regulation. While the DOL reviews the rule, which has been in effect since March 2024, it announced in a field…
Congratulations to Our Distinguished Employee Award Recipient! Jazmin Villa Account Manager, Employee Benefits Department Chico Office Each year, InterWest recognizes employees who are identified by their co-workers as having demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to their clients, workmates as well as their community. This partnership between work and giving back makes them stand out for…
In a challenging and evolving hard insurance marketplace, one metric stands out as a true indicator of sustainable growth: sales velocity. While many consider organic growth the bellwether for agency performance, sales velocity goes deeper, revealing how effectively an agency is bringing in new business regardless of market cycles. For brokerage owners, mastering this metric…
The “Big Beautiful” tax bill being debated in Congress has several provisions that would make major changes to rules governing individual coverage health care reimbursement arrangements and tax-advantaged health savings accounts. Many of these changes would benefit both employees and employers. The legislation has not yet been signed into law and could undergo significant changes…
Cal/OSHA has released draft language that would require employers of outside workers to take additional steps to ensure their safety when working in high heat conditions. The proposed rules were written to implement legislation — AB 2243 — signed into law in 2022 to address heat and wildfire smoke protections for workers. The draft rules,…