Blog
Ridgemark Insurance Services
Seven Steps to a Successful Open Enrollment
If you view annual open enrollment as a simple box-checking exercise, you're likely missing out on helping your staff get the most out of the benefits you provide. Instead, if you approach open enrollment as a chance to strengthen employee engagement, control costs...
New Rules May Coax More Insurers Back into California Market
In an effort to bring more insurers back into California's homeowner's and commercial property insurance market, the state Department of Insurance (DOI) has approved a system that will allow insurers to use forward-looking wildfire risk models to price policies in...
The Five Most Common Types of Employee Fraud, Theft
At some point, the odds are that a company will be affected by some form of employee theft or outright fraud. Fraud can severely crimp a company's finances and put the firm in a serious bind if the theft is large enough. With technology, fraud has in some ways become...
Construction Defect Litigation on the Rise
Construction defect lawsuits, a constant presence in the building industry, are on the rise, and legal observers expect the trend to continue over the next few years. There are several factors driving the increase, including a continuing construction industry labor...
Ransomware Escalates: Physical Threats Against Company Leaders
A new survey has found that in 46% of ransomware incidents in the U.S., CEOs or other executives were physically threatened if their organizations did not pay the ransom demanded by hackers. The findings in Semperis' "2025 Ransomware Risk Report" highlight other...
Multi-Unit Facilities Get Better Deal from FAIR Plan
The California FAIR Plan on July 25, 2025, started offering a new "high-value" commercial property coverage option for larger housing developments, farms and businesses with multiple buildings at one location. The new limits are up to $20 million per building, with a...
How to Implement an Effective Safety Incentive Program
Although not required by OSHA, some employers have shown that one of the best ways to positively motivate employees is through a safety incentive program that rewards safe behavior and participation in workplace safety efforts. These programs need not be complicated,...
How New U.S. Trade Policies Affect Insurance Costs
President Trump's sweeping return to tariff-heavy trade policies in 2025 is sending ripples across the economy, including the cost of property insurance claims. The latest round of tariffs, which include steep duties on imported construction materials and auto parts,...
How to Prepare for Rolling Blackouts
As wildfire seasons grow longer and more intense due to rising temperatures, utilities in high-risk areas are increasingly using public safety power shutoffs to prevent fires sparked by electrical equipment, one of the leading causes of wildfires. These proactive...
Insurance Commissioner Approves Workers’ Comp Rate Increase
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has ordered an 8.7% average advisory pure premium rate hike for policies incepting on or after Sept. 1, 2025. The rate follows a substantial uptick in claims and claims adjustment costs over the past four years, resulting...