Jacobson Insurance & Risk Management

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month!

For more than two decades, government agencies, cybersecurity leaders and the insurance community have used October to remind businesses that cyber risk is everyone's responsibility, from the front desk to the C-suite.

All month long, JACOBSON Insurance & Risk Management is sharing a weekly series on the four simple habits that stop the majority of cyberattacks before they start:

Week 1: Strong passwords and password managers
Week 2: Multifactor authentication (MFA)
Week 3: Recognizing and reporting phishing
Week 4: Keeping software updated

None of these require a big budget or an IT department, just consistent habits across your team. Follow along each week, share the tips with your employees, and reach out if you'd like to talk through how cyber insurance fits into your overall risk management strategy.

Contact our team with any questions.
📞 855-222-7475
📥 https://lnkd.in/abc1234

JACOBSON Insurance & Risk Management is proud to welcome Jeff A. Jacobson as Senior Account Executive & Operations Advisor.

Jeff brings nearly 50 years of commercial insurance experience and a career built around long-term relationships, trusted advice and serving clients across generations.

In his new role, Jeff will continue advising his clients while also bringing his experience and perspective to the broader JACOBSON team—supporting complex commercial accounts, client strategy, carrier relationships and agency operations.

His addition represents a unique full-circle moment for JACOBSON and adds another generation of insurance experience to the team we have built over the years.

We’re excited to officially welcome Jeff to JACOBSON and look forward to this next chapter together.

Welcome to the team, Jeff! 🙌

Most commercial property policies include a coinsurance clause that requires you to insure your property at a set percentage of its value, usually 80% to 90%. Fall short, and your insurer can reduce your payout even on a partial loss.

An agreed value provision suspends that penalty, but only for a set period, typically 12 months from your policy's effective date. There's no automatic renewal. If you don't update your statement of values before it expires, the coinsurance clause quietly comes back into effect, often without anyone noticing until a claim gets filed.

As Q3 closes out, it's worth checking your declarations page for that expiration date. It's a small thing to track and a costly one to miss.

The JACOBSON team is here to walk through your current policy.
📞 855-222-7475
📥 [email protected]

Retail bakeries run on more risk than most customers ever think about. Hot ovens, sharp tools, delivery vehicles, food allergens and a kitchen full of equipment that isn't cheap to replace.

A few exposures worth double-checking on your policy:

🍰 Product liability for allergen cross-contamination or improperly stored ingredients

🍰 Equipment breakdown coverage for ovens, mixers and refrigeration units

🍰 Inland marine coverage if you deliver custom orders or transport goods between locations

🍰 Crime coverage, since bakeries often keep cash and valuable inventory on-site

If your policy hasn't been reviewed since you opened, it's worth a fresh look, especially heading into the holiday baking season.

The JACOBSON team is happy to see what you've got cooking!
📞 855-222-7475
📥 [email protected]

A handful of federal wage and hour rules are working through the regulatory pipeline this fall, and they're worth putting on your radar even though none of them change your obligations yet.

The Department of Labor is expected to propose new work-hour standards for 14 and 15 year old employees, along with updated FLSA tip credit rules, both this September. A revised independent contractor status rule is also expected to finalize by October.

None of this changes what you need to do today. But if you employ minors, tipped staff or a mix of contractors and employees, it's worth flagging these for your HR team so nothing catches you off guard when the rules do land.

Have questions? The JACOBSON team is here to help:
📞 855-222-7475
📥 [email protected]

Sprinkler systems are triggered by heat, not smoke, and they only work when nothing's in the way. NFPA data shows properties with effective sprinkler systems cut fire deaths and property loss by more than 65%. But that number assumes the system is actually maintained.

A few things worth checking this quarter:

💦 Keep at least 18 inches of clearance below every sprinkler head

💦 Have heads inspected annually by a qualified professional, with faster testing intervals for older systems

💦 Watch for corrosion, physical damage or paint buildup, especially near paint booths, all of which can keep a head from activating

💦 Store spare heads and a sprinkler wrench on-site so a damaged one can be swapped quickly

It's an easy thing to overlook until the system doesn't perform when it needs to.

Plenty of businesses lean on independent contractors to stay flexible. The trouble starts when a contractor relationship looks more like employment in practice than it does on paper, someone working a set schedule, using company equipment, taking ongoing assignments that are central to the business.

Misclassification isn't just an HR headache. It can trigger back wages, penalties and, in some cases, personal liability for company leadership if the issue was widespread and went unaddressed. It can also complicate your EPLI and D&O coverage, since many policies exclude wage and hour claims outright.

If you're working with contractors across multiple states, it's worth an annual review rather than a one-time decision. The standards vary by state, and what qualifies as a contractor in one place might not in another.

The JACOBSON team is always here to help you if you have questions:
📞 855-222-7475
📥 [email protected]

A forklift work platform can be a genuinely safer way to get a job done at height instead of climbing a ladder or improvising with pallets. But it only works that way when it's used correctly.

A few rules worth repeating at your next safety talk:

Never travel with someone on the platform, and never lift workers on bare forks

Keep the operator at the controls at all times, with steady communication to whoever's on the platform

Lower the platform fully before moving the forklift to a new position

Inspect guardrails, toe boards and attachment points before every use, not just at the start of the week

It takes an extra five minutes to do this right. It's worth it.

Hispanic Heritage Month is here! We're celebrating the Hispanic and Latino communities and businesses that make Houston what it is.

Feliz Mes de la Herencia Hispana!🎉