j.r. prewitt & associates

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Kim Hayward EOY Image

In 1999, Walter Barnett joined The Prewitt Group after a 39-year stint with the IRS. During his 22 years as an agency controller, he not only continued to acquire but also apply an immense knowledge of accounting and legal expertise. While Barnett was incredibly skilled at his job, he also exemplified what it meant to be a team player and was always happy to lend a helping hand at work, earning himself the nickname “Mr. Fix-it” around The Prewitt Group office. It is this mix of expertise, friendliness, leadership, and professionalism that lead us to rename our employee of the year award to The Walter Barnett Employee of the Year Award, upon his retirement from The Prewitt Group, and in honor of his many contributions to our agency and his friendship to us all.

The Walter Barnett Employee of the Year Award honors the achievements and celebrates associates who exemplify the wonderful qualities that Walter possesses. Kim Hayward has been a sterling example of these qualities, which is why we have chosen her to be the inaugural recipient of this award.

Since 2007, Kim has been working with The Prewitt Group carrier’s online rating platforms, rating client accounts with major carriers and working with the Core Business Unit as well as handling the Certificate of Insurance requests. She helps team leaders and account managers make sure their requests are processed as efficiently as possible while also leading the implementation of a new processing program. Kim is not only a skilled employee, but she is also someone who knows the value of being a team player. She works hard daily for both our team and clients alike. Kim does whatever it takes to get the job done and does it with such a cheerful outlook.

We are very pleased to recognize Kim Hayward as the first Walter Barnett Employee of the Year recipient. She is more than deserving of this honor. Congratulations, Kim.

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Cyber security attacks continue to occur at an alarming rate. Do you have defensive steps in place to protect you and your business?

Recently, the White House warned American businesses to take urgent security measures to protect against ransomware attacks, as hackers shift their tactics from stealing data to disrupting critical infrastructure https://nyti.ms/3cGS2YE

This heightened warning follows a string of escalating ransomware attacks – from stealing data to disrupting operations. For example, we all witnessed the Colonial Pipeline event last month when they were hit with a ransomware attack. Their business records were frozen by a criminal group, forcing the company to suspend operations.

Without securing a dedicated cyber policy, most businesses likely do not have adequate insurance coverage following a data breach. Cyber insurance helps your company recover after a data breach, with costs that can include business disruption, revenue loss, equipment damages, legal fees, public relations expenses, forensic analysis, and costs associated with legally mandated notifications.

Our team of risk management specialists are in place to advise you on a cyber risk assessment. Please email Jack Prewitt, a risk management advisor specializing in cyber coverage, at jackprewitt@prewitt.group to discuss how we can put our power to mitigate risk to work for you.

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The Prewitt Group Awarded 2020 Agency of the Year

Frankenmuth Insurance bestows award to recognize top performance, profitability, growth and policy retention

Birmingham, Alabama, March 23, 2021 – Frankenmuth Insurance has named The Prewitt Group, a risk management and insurance firm headquartered in Birmingham, the 2020 Agency of the Year. The award is presented annually to one agency with overall top performance in profitability, growth and policy retention. The Prewitt Group has been a part of Frankenmuth Insurance since 2010. “Each year, we look forward to recognizing our top performing agencies for their dedication and commitment to serving our mutual customers,” said Fred Edmond, president & COO of Frankenmuth Insurance. “The Prewitt Group’s outstanding performance earned our highest distinction. It is an honor to present this award to the team.” The Prewitt Group is a family owned and operated full-service risk management firm, serving the Birmingham area since 1974. “Our agency is grateful to be recognized as Frankenmuth’s Agency of the Year for 2020. We are proud to have honored our commitment to our clients and partners in what was a challenging year for so many. Our team, like a family, stands together to bring the expertise and service needed to mitigate the risks of life and business for our clients and we appreciate the recognition from Frankenmuth Insurance for these efforts,” said John R. Prewitt, III, President of The Prewitt Group. To learn more about The Prewitt Group, find them on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn or visit prewitt.group.com

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About Frankenmuth Insurance Insurance exists to provide peace of mind, and Frankenmuth Insurance has been protecting individuals, families and businesses for more than 150 years. We truly care about the people we serve and strive to be your insurer of choice. We partner exclusively with nearly 700 independent agents to customize business, home, auto, and life insurance policies and surety bonds. Headquartered in Frankenmuth, Michigan, and doing business in 15 states, Frankenmuth Insurance is financially sound, with $1.8 billion in assets. The company has an A.M. Best rating of “A” (Excellent). For more information visit fmins.com. 1 Mutual Avenue, Frankenmuth, MI 48787-0001 Tel: 989.652.6121 www.fmins.com Fax: 989.652.6231

About The Prewitt Group J. R. Prewitt & Associates was founded in 1974 by John R. Prewitt, Jr. on the basis of offering clients a wide array of risk management services including commercial, personal, life and health, professional liability, workers compensation and bonds. In 2018, J.R. Prewitt & Associates transitioned to The Prewitt Group, one of the few family-owned agencies in the southeast serving over 4,000 clients and representing over two dozen insurance carriers. The Prewitt Group is committed to understanding the customer’s needs and delivering custom insurance solutions in order to obtain the highest level of client satisfaction. For more information on The Prewitt Group visit www.prewitt.group.com

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You may have noticed that we recently rebranded to “The Prewitt Group.” After 44 years as J.R. Prewitt & Associates, we wanted to update our name, logo and tagline to accurately reflect what we do and position us for the future.

What’s in the name?

As a family-owned and operated firm, we kept the last name of our founder and chairman, president and vice president in our new identity. The surname Prewitt is actually derived from the Middle English word “prou,” meaning “brave,” or “valiant,” with the addition of either of two common diminutive suffixes: “-et” or “-ot.” As such, this name is thought to have originally been a nickname for someone small, but brave.  Including “group” in our name ties our legacy of service excellence to our present-day offerings through partnerships with our network of top-rated insurance carriers – all aligned to provide our customers with an unmatched portfolio of custom insurance products.

What’s in the logo?

A shield is a universal symbol for protection from danger, risk or unpleasant experience. As risk consultants, this symbol correlates with our mission and commitment to our clients. Likewise, the lion portrays strength and nobility. Ultimately, the goal of our new logo was to depict the qualities J.R. Prewitt & Associates has come to be associated with since 1974.

What’s in the tagline?

Our tagline “the power to mitigate risk” concisely sums up what The Prewitt Group’s mission has been since our company was founded: To expertly handle all of your insurance needs whether personal or professional, with the utmost attention to detail and comprehensive protection from anticipated risk. Our new brand reflects what we’ve always focused on as a family-owned and operated firm, a commitment to excellence to better serve our clients tomorrow.

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The Prewitt Group logo

Since 1974, J.R. Prewitt & Associates has built a name as one of the premier insurance providers in our area. As we approach our 45th year, we’ve updated our name and logo to accurately position us for the future.

Our new name, The Prewitt Group, better ties our legacy of service excellence to our present-day offerings through partnerships with our vast network of top-rated insurance carriers—all aligned to provide our clients, whether personal or professional, with an unmatched portfolio of custom insurance products. It’s a brand that’s purpose-built to highlight our strength as an insurer and ability to protect you from anticipated risk.

Our new logo depicts the qualities J.R. Prewitt & Associates has come to be associated with since 1974: The shield, a universal symbol for protection from danger, risk or unpleasant experience and the lion, a positive depiction in human culture of strength and nobility.

We’ve always been committed to providing the most excellent experience today, so we can better serve you tomorrow. That’s the strength and determination you’ve come to depend on with our comprehensive approach to covering your insurance needs.

That’s “the power to mitigate risk.”

In fact, our tagline, “the power to mitigate risk,” concisely sums up what The Prewitt Group’s mission has been since our company was founded: To expertly handle all of your insurance needs whether personal or professional, with the utmost attention to detail and comprehensive protection from anticipated risk. Our new brand is a reflection of what we’ve always focused on as a family-owned and operated firm, a commitment to excellence to better serve you tomorrow.

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Umbrella Policy

Whether it’s a car accident involving expensive medical bills, an incident on your property, or a slander claim, the damage expenses you’re responsible for can add up quickly and exceed the limits of your auto or homeowner’s insurance policies. Plus, unexpected events like these could easily result in a costly lawsuit.

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Is General Liability Insurance Enough

Because it covers the most common lawsuits that arise from everyday business activities, General Liability Insurance is often the go-to coverage for small business owners. But, is it enough to really protect your business?

A Commercial General Liability (CGL) policy covers three primary components: premises liability, products liability and completed operations.

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Secondary Health Insurance

By: David Murdock, J.R. Prewitt & Associates Life, Health and Group Benefits Consultant

Increasing healthcare costs impact both employees and employers. In fact, according to The New York Times, high-priced insurance plans are causing middle-class consumers to drop coverage altogether.

As mentioned in my previous blog, medical trends are the cause of these increasing costs. Medical trends are determined by health insurance companies monitoring the costs of visiting a physician, having lab work done and receiving other routine outpatient treatments. Price inflation, increased usage of medical care and services, leveraging effect of fixed deductibles and copays, cost shifting from the uninsured to private payers, government-mandated benefits, and technological advancements also influence medical trends.

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Linda Tilley

As J.R. Prewitt & Associates’ Manager of Commercial Lines, Marketing & Personal Lines, Linda Tilley provides leadership and problem-solving services for each department in the agency. After 27 years at J.R. Prewitt, Linda’s favorite place to be in Birmingham remains the office on Highland Avenue. She strives to always be there for her fellow employees when they need guidance. To learn more about Linda, check out this Q&A:

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In case you haven’t heard, President Donald Trump recently imposed tariffs on U.S. imports of steel and aluminum. The 25 percent tariff on steel and 10 percent tariff on aluminum went into effect on June 1, 2018. Trump’s goal with these tariffs is to level the playing field for American manufacturers. While these tariffs will ultimately benefit the American steel and aluminum industries, they may also impact other industries. USA Today highlights a few winners and losers of Trump’s tariffs here.

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