HAWK Advisers: Blog
HAWK’s Intern: A Year in Reflection
Background: My name is Will Matney, I started my internship at HAWK Advisers in September 2020 through the Blue Ridge Fellows after receiving my bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Virginia Tech. This program is one of many transitional initiatives in the...
2021 Theme: Stand in the Gap
Every year, our team at HAWK Advisers chooses a theme. In 2021, our theme is to “stand in the gap” for our clients, for our team and to serve as a reminder to the commitment we have to carry out our mission to the fullest. In ancient days, cities protected themselves...
OSHA: 300A Summary Deadlines
Annual OSHA 300A Summary Posting Deadline: February 1, 2021 OSHA's 300A Summary form records work-related injuries and illnesses recorded during the calendar year. Employer requirements include maintaining an OSHA 300 injury and illness log throughout the calendar...
What 2020 Taught Our Team at HAWK Advisers
2020 has presented some unforeseen challenges, but it has also given our team an opportunity to slow down, pause, and reflect on the lessons we have learned, the things in life that matter the most to us, and how our personal core values align with our core values...
Personal Umbrella Insurance: What It Is & What It Covers
As it tends to be with most things in life, interpretation does not always coincide with reality. Unsurprisingly, this principle could not be more true for what the insurance industry would call, “umbrella policies.” For many seeking to attain liability coverage,...
The Scary Truth of Not Having EPLI Coverage
What is EPLI Coverage? Employment Practices Liability Insurance is available to protect businesses for both first-party (employment related) and third-party (customer and vendor) lawsuits involving such issues as harassment or discrimination. Third-party liability...
Meet Will, HAWK’s Intern!
Who Am I? My name is Will Matney and I could not be more excited to be part of Team HAWK. In May, I received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Virginia Tech and wrapped up what ended up being the most transformative years of my life. While I spent the...
Do I Need Flood Insurance?
Flooding is common throughout many areas within the United States and can be prevalent during particular times of the year in particular areas. Though there is no specific flood season, most flooding occurs in the U.S. from spring to fall. Floods can cause more than...
Will Your Insurance Cover Workers’ Compensation & Business Interruption Claims Due to the Coronavirus?
The coronavirus has taken the world by storm, disrupting businesses around the world and changing how we live our daily lives. Social distancing is in full effect as schools, sporting events, and other activities are being shutdown to help mitigate the spread of...
How Does a Workers’ Compensation Claim Affect My Premium?
One of the biggest expenses affecting small businesses is workers' compensation insurance, which covers expenses associated with injuries to employees while on the job. Workers' compensation is one way that small business employers can help protect the people that...
Electric Scooters- What’s the Risk?
There is a popular new mobility option that has hit the streets in Roanoke - Lime Scooters. In fact, they have not just hit Roanoke's streets, according to Lime's website, they have been introduced to more than 100 cities worldwide. Lime encourages people to ride in...
Seminar Recap: Benefits That Bite
HAWK Advisers took a deep dive into the murky waters surrounding Workers' Compensation & Employee Benefits in our latest seminar to help employers spot, identify, and defend their company from lurking sharks. Suit up, we're diving into our discussion below! CHEWS...
Sensory Technology in Insurance
Technology has made an impact on every industry and whether or not you are pro-technology or against it, we can all agree it is here to stay. Insurance is no exception and our industry is changing at an unprecedented pace. As risk advisers, we draw your attention to...
Why Do We Spell Advisers With An E?
According to the Grammarist, adviser and advisor are both accepted spellings of the noun meaning one who advises or counsels. There is no difference between them. However, adviser, the older version, is listed as the primary spelling in most dictionaries, and it is...
10 Facts from HAWK’s Self-Funding Seminar!
On June 11, 2019, HAWK Advisers hosted a seminar where David Smith, Vice President of Risk Management and Compliance with EbenConcepts, provided an employer primer on self-funded health plans (including level-funded or balance funded) and discussed the risk, finance...
5 Things to Consider Before Switching to a Self-Funded Health Plan
There are many things to consider as an organization before you decide if self-funding is right for you. It is important to first understand the basic differences between a self-funded health plan and a traditional health plan and evaluate the advantages and...
What Are the Disadvantages to Self-Funded Health Plans?
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), states that employers who self-insure health plans are directly responsible for paying medical claims rather than paying for conventional health insurance policies. A self-insured employer chooses its plan design and...
What Are the Advantages of Self-Funding Your Health Benefits Plan?
According to an article by Collective Health, nearly 1 in 2 Americans – that’s 151 million of us – receive our health care coverage through an employer-sponsored health benefit plan. Of those, 3 out of 4, or about 108 million of us, receive health coverage through a...
Traditional vs. Self-Funded Health Plans
What is self-funding? According to the Health Care Administrators Association, in practical terms, self-insured employers pay for claims out-of-pocket as they are presented instead of paying a pre-determined premium to an insurance carrier for a fully-insured plan....
Not-At-Fault Car Accidents & Workers’ Compensation
Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of catastrophic injury and death to persons of all ages in the United States. Many of these motor vehicle accidents happen during the workday and involve people going to and from work or completing job-related tasks. If you...
What Do the Initials Behind My Insurance Adviser’s Name Mean?
There are many advisory positions where industry professionals have designations – doctors, lawyers, realtors, and your insurance adviser. Why? Because these industries require professionals to hone in on an area of expertise. You would not want to speak to a...
Seminar Recap: Surviving Workers’ Compensation & Employee Benefits in 2019
Stephen Hamilton and Tori Doss unpacked their “Survival Kits” at our seminar on Wednesday, October 24, 2018 to help businesses prepare for workers’ compensation and employee benefits survival in 2019. Here is what they believe are the most important items packed in...