DSP background

Subcontractor Prequalification Is More Than Risk Management

Mar 31, 2026 9:29:31 AM / by Damien Strohmier posted in Surety

0 Comments

A general contractor loses a subcontractor mid-project. Maybe they ran out of cash. Maybe they took on too much work and could not deliver. Maybe the signs were there for months and nobody was watching closely enough.

The result is the same regardless of the cause: delays, cost overruns, a damaged owner relationship, and a scramble to find someone who can pick up the pieces.

Here is the uncomfortable truth. In most of those situations, the outcome was preventable.

Read More

A Small Leak Can Become a Big Problem: Simple Water Defense Tips for Your Home

Mar 19, 2026 9:11:16 AM / by Laura Wywial posted in Personal Insurance

0 Comments

Water damage is one of the most common and costly insurance claims homeowners experience. In fact, it is estimated that nearly one trillion gallons of water are lost each year in the United States due to common household leaks. Many of these losses begin with small issues that go unnoticed until damage has already occurred.

One appliance that deserves a little extra attention is the refrigerator. Water supply lines, filters, and seals can all contribute to leaks or inefficiencies if they are not inspected regularly. A quick annual check is a simple way to prevent water damage at home and keep your appliance running efficiently.

Read More

Your Benefits Strategy May Have a Coordination Problem

Mar 6, 2026 9:16:58 AM / by Blake Erickson posted in Employee Benefits

0 Comments

Most employers spend more on employee benefits every year. Costs go up. Complexity goes up. But outcomes? They stay flat.

Read More

Are You Confident Your Insurance Program Is Competitively Positioned?

Feb 25, 2026 5:58:04 PM / by Mike Pohl posted in Commercial Lines

0 Comments

Most businesses renew their insurance program the same way each year.
Meet with their broker. Review the numbers. Negotiate a little. Move on.

But very few companies stop to ask a more important question:

How does our program actually compare to the rest of the market?

Not what one carrier thinks. Not what last year looked like.
What does the data say?

Read More

What Happens When the Plan You Built No Longer Fits the Business You Have?

Feb 20, 2026 2:28:31 PM / by Blake Erickson posted in Employee Benefits

0 Comments

Most private business owners have some version of a succession plan. A buy-sell agreement drafted years ago. A vague understanding that the life insurance policy covers it. A handshake with a partner about what happens if one of them walks away.

What most owners don't have is a plan that reflects the business as it exists today.

That gap is where things get expensive.

Read More

Tightening Surety Underwriting Amid a Growing Market

Feb 4, 2026 3:30:04 PM / by Damien Strohmier posted in Surety

0 Comments

The U.S. surety market hasexperienced robust premium growth in recent years, driven by strong demand forcontract bonds tied to large-scale infrastructure spending and generalincreases in contract sizes stemming from inflationary cost pressures. However,against this backdrop of growth, surety loss ratios have trended upward,prompting a noticeable shift in underwriting posture across the market.

Read More

OSHA Injury and Illness Reporting Requirements for Employers

Jan 27, 2026 10:02:04 AM / by Steve Stetson posted in Safety Consulting

0 Comments

Each year, certain employers are required to submit workplace injury and illness data to OSHA through the Injury Tracking Application (ITA). These reports help OSHA monitor safety trends, identify high-risk workplaces, and strengthen worker protection efforts.

Read More

The Truth About ICHRAs: Separating the Hype From What Really Matters

Jan 21, 2026 8:39:39 AM / by Eric Vatch posted in Employee Benefits

0 Comments

ICHRA: What Is It?

An Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement differs from a traditional group health plan by shifting how coverage is provided. Instead of sponsoring a group policy, the employer offers a defined contribution that employees use to purchase their own individual health insurance. Working with a plan administrator, employees can choose from multiple insurers and plan options, and their share of the premium is typically paid pre-tax through payroll. For some employers, this approach can be more cost-effective and predictable than maintaining a group plan.

Read More

Property Fraud: What It Is and How to Protect Yourself

Jan 9, 2026 10:16:00 AM / by Laura Wywial posted in Personal Insurance

0 Comments

Property fraud, sometimes referred to as deed fraud or recording fraud, is a growing concern for homeowners and property owners. It occurs when someone files forged or fraudulent documents with a county recorder in an attempt to transfer ownership, place a lien, or otherwise gain financial benefit from a property they do not own. Properties that are paid off or have no mortgage are often targeted because there is less oversight from a lender.

Once a fraudulent document is recorded, the responsibility to correct it typically falls on the property owner. This often requires petitioning the court, at the owner’s expense, to have the fraudulent recording removed. Until the issue is resolved, selling the property or obtaining a mortgage or refinancing can be difficult or even impossible.

Read More

ICHRA, Education, and Why More School Leaders Are Paying Attention Now

Dec 30, 2025 1:19:35 PM / by Blake Erickson posted in Employee Benefits

0 Comments

For most education leaders, employer-sponsored healthcare has long been treated as a fixed part of doing business. 

You select a carrier. 
You negotiate a renewal. 
You absorb the increase. 
You explain it to employees. 
You repeat the process the following year. 

Read More

Subscribe to Email Updates

Recent Posts

World-class service and insurance solutions around the globe.

World-class service and insurance solutions around the globe.

World-class service and insurance solutions around the globe.