By Susan Elise Campbell

Cyber crime is on the rise so rapidly that more U.S. businesses have been victims of attack than not. Here in the North Country, companies with 10 to 50 employees are frequent targets said Kevin O’Brien, president of TechFirst Insurance Agency in Queensbury.

“Most mid-sized companies do not have a computer techie on staff guarding the entryways,” said O’Brien, who is co-partner with Mark Shaw, founder of StoredTech, a local IT services firm. “The discussion right now is not if you’re going to get attacked, but when.”

O’Brien said that “when a bad actor enters into their computer network, the business must report to the state.” One benefit of cyber insurance is the needed legal counsel to navigate those requirements. 

But as cyber criminals “get smarter” at what they do, O’Brien said companies need a policy to cover notifying everyone whose personal data has been stolen, lost revenue, data reparation, and much more. 

“Cyber crime is so regular that all businesses need to put money up for insurance, because it impacts not only your business, but your clients, vendors, advertisers, and anyone whose payment information and personal data you may be storing,” he said.

With so many levels of risk, O’Brien said it is not enough to have cyber coverage as an add-on to a general liability policy. There needs to be a stand-alone policy specific to that business.

“Proper protection is like a smoke alarm, he said. “When there’s a fire in the business, everyone hears it and gets out safe.”

By David Kopyc

The Baby Boomer generation will pass on an estimated 80-plus trillion dollars of wealth to their family, and this will be the largest wealth transfer in the history of mankind. There are certain types of financial assets that are very complicated to be passed on to the next generation and this article will focus on one in particular – qualified assets (IRA, 401(k). 

Qualified assets are estimated to be around $20 trillion of wealth. As I write this article, a vast sum of the money will be 100 percent taxable as ordinary income and never receive a step up in basis at death. These monies have a huge tax obligation sent down to your heirs to pay the tax bill that you left behind.

Previously, financial advisors had the ability to do a stretch IRA, to spread these payments out for decades, but the government discontinued the stretch IRA and now non-spouse beneficiaries have 10 years to have 100 percent of the inherited IRA paid out. That leads me to ask you a question…Do you want to leave a tax liability or do you wish to leave a tax-free benefit for your legacy?

Deciding on that answer can lead you to consider purchasing a life insurance policy to pass some of your qualified assets tax-free to your loved ones. This option does not have to be all or none. At the Retirement Planning Group, we usually do a carve out, with a portion of the qualified assets to be spent down to purchase a life insurance policy. Some of these policies can be paid for over a 10-year, 20-year, or lifetime payout. Depending on your other assets and the size of your estate, you might even have the ability to do a one-time payment.

Life insurance isn’t something only the wealthy use for wealth transfer and estate preservation.  There are several unique features of life insurance, but the two that are most beneficial are tax-free and guaranteed values. Many of our clients have used life insurance for a guaranteed wealth transfer, especially if you are in a blended family and you have a substantial age difference between spouses.

By Melissa Davidson, CIC

The holiday season is a critical time for businesses, especially those in retail. With the surge in sales, there is also an increase in inventory to meet the demand. While this can lead to substantial profits, it also introduces significant risks. Business insurance for inventory during the holidays is essential to protect your investment and ensure your operations run smoothly. Here’s what you need to know.

Understanding the Risks: The holiday season presents unique challenges for businesses. Some of the most common risks include; theft & burglary, fire hazards, damages in transit, and natural disasters.

With the increased flow of customers and high-value inventory, the risk of theft and burglary rises. Seasonal hiring may also mean less experienced staff who may be less vigilant about security protocols. These temporary employees, while essential for handling the holiday rush, might not have the same level of training or loyalty as permanent staff, which can inadvertently increase the risk of internal theft.

Holiday decorations, increased electrical usage, and heating can elevate the risk of fire. Dry Christmas trees, decorative lights, and heating systems running at full capacity can contribute to potential fire hazards. The festive atmosphere often leads businesses to add extra lighting and decorations, which, if not properly managed, can become fire hazards. It’s crucial to regularly inspect all electrical decorations for frayed wires and to ensure that real Christmas trees are kept hydrated to prevent them from becoming fire risks.