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Hub acquires JRP Financial Services 0

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Hub acquires JRP Financial Services

Hub International strengthens employee benefits capabilities with acquisition of Alberta-based JRP Financial Services, Inc. Chicago, IL (Dec. 18, 2023) – Hub International Limited (Hub), a leading global insurance brokerage and financial services firm, is pleased to announce that it has acquired JRP Financial Services, Inc. (JRP). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, JRP is an independent benefits brokerage firm specializing in employee benefits, pension planning and human resources. Jason Conley, Benefits Consultant, Lise Gaudreau, Client Relations Specialist, and the JRP team will join Hub Prairies. JRP will be referred to as JRP Financial Services, a Hub International company. About Hub’s M&A Activities Hub International Limited is committed to growing organically and through acquisitions to expand its geographic footprint and strengthen industry and product expertise. For more information on the Hub M&A experience. For more information on the Hub M&A experience, visit WeAreHub.com. About Hub International Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Hub International Limited is a leading full-service global insurance broker and financial services firm providing risk management, insurance, employee benefits, retirement and wealth management products and services. With more than 16,000 employees in offices located throughout North America, Hub’s vast network of specialists brings clarity...

12 Best States for Elder Abuse Protections 0

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12 Best States for Elder Abuse Protections

Start Slideshow The U.S. population is growing older: In 2017, the Census Bureau predicted that the number of Americans 65 and older would nearly double to 95 million by 2060. Many people look forward to their proverbial golden years, but for vulnerable older Americans, this period can devolve into a nightmare of physical, emotional, sexual or financial abuse, and, sometimes, a combination of these behaviors. It behooves advisors and client-facing associates to be on the lookout for indications that older clients may be at risk of financial abuse. Firms can establish risk-management policies and procedures for dealing with these sensitive situations. The personal finance website WalletHub brings this critical issue to the fore by comparing elder-abuse protections across the United States. Its dataset ranges from the volume of elder-abuse, gross-neglect and exploitation complaints to states’ laws dealing with financial elder abuse. “Falling prey to financial abuse can have dire consequences for anyone, but our older population is particularly susceptible,” WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe said in a statement. “Abuse can greatly impact their ability to afford basic necessities, especially since many seniors are on a fixed income.” The Federal Trade Commission recently reported that older adults reported losing more than $1.6...

The 5 Best Luxury Hotels of 2023 — and Why They’re Worth the Price 0

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The 5 Best Luxury Hotels of 2023 — and Why They’re Worth the Price

Start Slideshow If we thought 2023 would be a year of normal travel after a prolonged period of disruption and uncertainty, boy, were we wrong. Still, amid all of this year’s natural disasters, social unrest and geopolitical conflicts, hotels reclaimed their ability to serve as beacons of pure comfort: They largely overcame the labor and supply chain crises and returned to full-service operations. They again became capable of making us feel pampered and truly cared for during challenging times. And in fact, with 2023 also seeing the first-ever editions of the World’s 50 Best hotels list and a similar ranking by La Liste — each recognizing the industry’s global hospitality standard bearers — discussions about hotels this year were often celebratory. We certainly paid a pretty penny for that service, as nightly rates continued to soar to previously unthinkable heights. Here are the top five places I stayed this year — and the details that made them worth the (sometimes eye-popping) price tags. I think it’s no surprise that my top two were the ones I got to share with both of my kids: Family always makes a place that much sweeter. (The author is Bloomberg News’ travel czar and...

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When Is the Right Time to Ask Clients About Writing a Will?

What You Need to Know Writing a will can improve the transmission of wealth across generations, but many individuals do not have one. Approaching a client about writing a will is not a good idea when they are preoccupied with another complex financial transaction, research suggests. Financially sophisticated investors and homeowners were more likely to respond positively to financial incentives to write a will. Legacy planning experts know the most effective way to ensure that wealth transfers go to the intended recipients is for the donor to have an enforceable will, but many Americans who could benefit from writing a will neglect to do so. In fact, as detailed in a new report published by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, the percentage of households in which the head has a will is “surprisingly low,” such that, for those 50 and older, fewer than half of household heads have a will. By age 70, the share increases to 67% overall, but the rate is much lower for less wealthy households and for Black and Hispanic households. As the authors warn, this is a big financial security issue affecting American households today — one that financial professionals can help...

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Reinsurance Buyers Find ‘Smoother’ January Renewals With Ample Capacity: Carpenter

Article 1 Comment Ceding companies are finding that a responsive reinsurance market has materialized for the Jan. 1, 2024 renewals – a reflection of ample capacity and a commercial approach to trading partnerships, according to Guy Carpenter, the reinsurance business of Marsh McLennan. However, reinsurers have continued with their underwriting rigor during the renewals, said a report issued by Carpenter. Reinsurance capacity increased through year end, driven by rebounding capital in the sector and healthy reinsurer returns, estimated to be near 20% for 2023, said Guy Carpenter. In partnership with AM Best, Carpenter estimates total dedicated reinsurance capital increased by 10%, compared with year-end 2022. Differing from past years following a major market correction, capital growth was driven by existing reinsurers with no start-up class of 2023. “The Jan. 1 market reflected more balanced trading conditions providing cedents improved opportunities to achieve their objectives while maintaining key reinsurer relationships,” said Dean Klisura, president and CEO, Guy Carpenter, in a statement. “Technical discussions were essential to reinsurers’ increasing appetite and capacity allocations.” Under these conditions, capacity generally ranged from adequate to ample for completion of programs across classes (where price and structure thresholds were met), including where additional demand materialized, the...

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Mississippi Health Department Retesting Some Medical THC Products for Toxins

Article 0 Comments JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Department of Health said Wednesday that “a large number” of medical marijuana products are on hold so they can be retested. The department first issued the hold on Dec. 21. A news release from the department said the products are being retested “to validate results related to the use of pesticides and presence of mycotoxins,” which are produced by fungi. No illnesses from the products have been reported, the department said. The department is overseeing the new testing of the medical cannabis products in licensed testing facilities. “Through the state’s seed-to-sale tracking system, the agency can isolate the batch and lot numbers associated with this administrative hold and expedite the retesting,” said Laura Goodson, director of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program. “The tracking system is an invaluable tool to assist with regulatory compliance and overall product safety.” Retesting is prioritized based on the type of medical cannabis products. Cannabis flower or bud was being tested first because it is the base for many of products, followed by concentrates and infused products. The department said as batches of products are cleared, the hold on those will be lifted and the products will...

Florida Countertop Firm Owner Killed in Helicopter Crash 0

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Florida Countertop Firm Owner Killed in Helicopter Crash

Article 0 Comments MIAMI (AP) — Emergency workers in south Florida this week tried to rescue a 71-year-old pilot of a helicopter that crashed into a canal. The man’s daughter swam to safety but the pilot could not be saved, according to news reports. The helicopter was carrying the two passengers from Fort Myers when it crashed into a canal about three miles west of Miami Executive Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. Aerial video footage showed divers from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue searching the canal, CBS News Miami and the Miami Herald reported. The federal aviation agency said it was opening an investigation. The pilot was identified as Clement Zanzuri, president of Stoneworks Inc., a Miami supplier of countertops, according to a news report. His daughter is Jordan Zanzuri, 27, who coaches applicants preparing for law school admission tests. Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Florida Was this article valuable? Thank you! Please tell us what we can do to improve this article. Submit No Thanks Thank you! % of people found this article valuable. Please tell us what you liked about it. Submit No...

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Storm Gerrit Batters Northern UK, Damaging Houses, Knocking Out Power

Article 0 Comments A storm that battered the UK with high winds and heavy snow damaged houses, canceled trains and left thousands of people without electricity Thursday across Scotland and parts of northern England. Workers dealt with wind speeds of 80 miles per hour in some coastal areas of Scotland as they tried to restore power to households and businesses that were cut off when falling branches and other debris hit utility lines. More than 31,000 homes were reconnected, but about 14,000 others remained without power on Thursday morning. Storm Gerrit also caused widespread disruption to train service across Scotland, where travel on some lines was suspended until officials could carry out a full inspection of the rail network. A falling tree hit the driver`s cabin on one train, but no one was injured. Snow also blocked some roads in Scotland. In the city of Manchester in northwest England, police said they received numerous reports late Wednesday of homes being damaged by a “mini tornado.” . Local officials said some 100 properties were evacuated overnight. No injuries were reported. Heathrow Airport, the U.K.`s main travel hub, canceled 18 flights on Wednesday because of air traffic control restrictions on domestic routes....

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DOL Denies Second Request for More Time on Fiduciary Rule Comments

In a letter sent Dec. 2 to acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, the senators — including Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Ben Cardin, D-Md. — told Su that “given the broad impacts of this potential rulemaking, we are concerned that you are rushing this process.” Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., wrote in a separate letter to Su the same day that “given the many thoughtful comments” Labor received during its public hearings, held Dec. 12 and 13, Labor should extend the comment period by 30 days.

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En Route to Grandma’s House, 6-year-old Put on Wrong Flight to Florida

Article 0 Comments FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — A 6-year-old boy who left on a flight to visit his grandmother in southwest Florida instead was put on the wrong plane and ended up 160 miles away in Orlando, Florida. When the grandmother, Maria Ramos, showed up on Thursday at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers to greet her grandson who was flying for the first time from Philadelphia, she was told he wasn`t on the Spirit Airlines flight. “I ran inside the plane to the flight attendant and I asked her, ‘Where’s my grandson? He was handed over to you at Philadelphia?’ She said, ‘No, I had no kids with me,`” Ramos told WINK News. She then got a call from her grandson from the airport in Orlando, telling her that he had landed. In a statement, Spirit Airlines said the boy was under the care and supervision of an airlines employee the entire time, even though he was incorrectly boarded on a flight to Orlando. Once the mistake was discovered, the airlines let the family know, the statement said. “We take the safety and responsibility of transporting all of our Guests seriously and are conducting an internal investigation,”...