DFS Proposes New Required Topics For Producer Continuing Ed

​The New York State Department of Financial Services has proposed a new regulation that would, for the first time, require insurance agents and brokers to take courses on specific topics to meet their continuing education (CE) obligations. If adopted, the new requirements would take effect next April.The proposed regulation​ does not increase the number of CE hours producers must take from the current 15 per two-year license period. That number is set by state law​ and cannot be changed without action by the state legislature and the governor. Instead, the regulation would require producers to include in those 15 hours:At least one hour of courses on…

Continue ReadingDFS Proposes New Required Topics For Producer Continuing Ed

Employers Must Adopt HERO Act Plans By Aug. 5

​​P​ho​to by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash​All private employers with employees and worksites in the state of New York must adopt an airborne infectious disease exposure prevention plan​ by early next month. We urge all of you to begin the process as soon as possible.The plans are required under the New York Health and Essential Rights (HERO) Act. This is a new law that the state legislature passed and modified last spring; Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed the original on May 5 and the changes on June 11. It took effect on July 4.The law required the New York State Department of Labor, working with the Department of…

Continue ReadingEmployers Must Adopt HERO Act Plans By Aug. 5

Industry Roundup: July 2, 2021

​HOW DIGITAL INSURANCE​​ TOOLS AFFECT GENERATIONAL BRAND LOYALTYThe use of digital tools in the insurance industry lags behind similar fields. Although more people are digitally managing their insurance policies, there's still room for improvement, particularly among younger generations. While nearly 60% of 18- to 39-year-olds use mobile apps for banking, less than one-third use these apps to manage their insurance.VOLKSWAGEN HIT BY DATA BREACH - O​​VER 3.3 MILLION US AND CANADA CUSTOMERS' DATA EXPOSEDVolkswagen has warned customers that one of its vendors was recently affected by a data breach which potentially exposed the information of some 3.3 million customers in the US and Canada.Customer data…

Continue ReadingIndustry Roundup: July 2, 2021