• Staying Under the Radar: The Cornerstones of Cybersecurity

    The center of attention is not my idea of the place to be. I know that sounds crazy in this day and age, where people crave the spotlight and brand awareness is king, but hear me out.

    Why We Say “No”
    Our growing brand reputation here at NFP attracts a lot of technology publications that want to talk about our technology footprint. When these invitations happen, I politely decline. The last thing you ever want to do in my space is increase people’s awareness of who you are and what you do.

    The technology industry evolved into teams — offensive attackers against the rest of us on defense. As the leader of defenses at NFP, I want to minimize visibility to our technology and, in turn, reduce the number of cyberattacks that put our clients’ and partners’ information at risk, damage our reputation and expose us to significant financial loss. Once you get bold and say to the world, “We have great technology,” someone will take it as a challenge. While they may not be able to prove you wrong, they can certainly cause unnecessary stress and involvement from our already hard working resources.

    We’re proud of what we do in the NFP Technology department, but when it comes to cybersecurity, sometimes patting yourself on the back is equivalent to slapping on a target. We need to stay out of the limelight — the wrong person with strong motivation and enough talent can still crack an incredible system, even with all our great work.

    When companies do anything ethically dubious, they become targets. Luckily, NFP strives to do business the right way. We put forth our best efforts to produce amazing results for our clients, and we live out our corporate values of putting people first — whether they’re employees, clients or vendors. When you have that sort of integrity, it adds an extra layer of protection.

    NFP’s quiet confidence and strong security measures help our clients feel safe when they’re doing business with us. That trust goes a long way in sustaining our client retention, increasing our cross-sell opportunities and improving the likelihood of them referring us to others.

    We’re Pretty Good at Locking the Doors
    You might feel like you’ve seen a few more emails than usual about digital issues – like DocuSign phishing and the WannaCry ransomware outbreak – and wondered why there’s such an uptick in attacks lately. It isn’t because hacking is new. It’s just getting easier for hackers to find points of entry through people rather than through the security defenses. Because we make so much information available, it’s easier and easier for individuals to be attacked via electronic means, in subtle ways.

    Hacking’s not all phishing and ransomware, though. Attackers routinely attempt to digitally break in to do significant damage and collect data that can be extremely lucrative. NFP, with strong support from our Executive Management Committee, has invested heavily in our cybersecurity defenses.

    When our systems identify attackers trying to “hack” their way in, our automated barriers slow them down or stop the attack entirely. Our Technology team is notified, quickly isolates any concern and reports to NFP’s Coordinated Incident Response Team what, if any, risk was exposed. We’re not impenetrable, but we’re pretty good at locking the doors. Hackers may think, “I might crack this eventually, but with these strong defenses, it’s hard.” They’re more likely to check the door, realize the sophistication of the lock and then move on.

    We’re Human; We Make Mistakes
    The ability to block everything is impossible, but as systems get stronger, criminally minded individuals start targeting the weakest link: people. When it comes to data protection and security online, the reality is that people are the biggest threat to a secure system. People want to be helpful. We – as employees and as individuals – want to be heroes and provide amazing service. This attitude is what makes us great, but it also makes us vulnerable.

    Individuals not affiliated with a company might befriend the nightly security guard to gain trust, show up with their arms full and hope somebody holds doors or scans open a secure area. Once inside, accessing sensitive information – or even just grabbing and walking out with an entire computer – gets a whole lot easier. This same type of thing can happen when a user mistakenly gives information to the wrong person – either on the phone or through a bad link or download – or lets a malicious person trick them into getting onto their computer to perform “maintenance.”

    That’s not to say that we’re always making mistakes. Thanks to our annual cybersecurity compliance training, we’re actually seeing less bad-URL clicking, more communication and check-ups with us in Technology Services, and stronger due diligence across the board. It’s amazing and incredibly heartening — so keep it up and have your eyes peeled for this year’s cybersecurity training!

    Four Cornerstones of Cybersecurity
    When it comes to staying safe online, there’s really no mystery. We do all the right things, and our leadership gives us the tools we need to make ourselves technologically safe.

    But each individual employee can help by pulling together, keeping each other accountable and staying focused. Follow this advice:

    • Don’t open suspicious emails or links. Even if it doesn’t look particularly suspicious, no one’s ever going to ask you out of the blue to click something for validation, especially someone you don’t know on a project you’ve never heard of. Any time you get something that looks suspicious, but you don’t know for sure and think you may need to open it, tell Technology. We can investigate to find out if it’s on the level.
    • Don’t give out your credentials/our clients’ information. Most companies you interact with know how phishing works and how malware is spread. Google, Facebook, your bank — whoever it is, they aren’t going to try to verify your information online or get in touch with you in an insecure fashion.
    • Stay vigilant. Pay attention to what you’re doing and where you’re doing it. Don’t log on to that weird-looking free Wi-Fi at the coffee shop just because their public connection is running a little slow. Don’t send confidential materials from public spaces. Don’t click on that ad claiming that you’re the millionth visitor or that you’ve won an exclusive vacation. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
    • Don’t panic. If something’s obviously gone wrong, or even if you think you might’ve just made a big mistake, immediately unplug your computer (do not save, do not do the normal shut-down process), take a step back, breathe, assess the situation and get in touch immediately. It’ll be okay; we’re here to help.

    If you see something, say something. Even if you think you only might have a virus but you’re not sure, the worst thing you can do is not say anything. Time is of the essence. We can investigate immediately and address the issue before it affects the entire network. Don’t be afraid; just talk to us. We’re here, we understand and we’d rather check up and find false alarms than not get the opportunity to fix a real one.

    If you ever have any questions, email technologyservices@nfp.com and let’s address the problem together.

  • Recent Acquisitions — We’re Growing, and So Is What We Can Do

    We’re excited to bring all of our recent acquisitions into the NFP family. They expand our capabilities and complement a number of our product and service focus areas across the country and beyond:

    • Hole-in-One U.S.A. is one of the largest providers of hole-in-one insurance coverage for golf events throughout the U.S. Their office is located in Reno, NV, and the group services clients throughout the country.
    • Associated Agency Group, a full-service P&C insurance broker headquartered in Kennewick, WA, with additional locations across the state of Washington, expands our offerings in the Pacific Northwest.
    • Kempkey Insurance Services is a Napa, CA, based commercial lines P&C broker that specializes in the wine and hospitality industries.
    • McCullough Insurance Agency, a long-standing P&C insurance broker in Flagstaff, AZ, services commercial and personal lines clients in the Southwest United States.
    • Brennan & Associates is a P&C insurance broker that complements our existing P&C coverage in our California and Las Vegas offices and focuses on the long-term care industry.
    • Bigbie, Hensley & Janway Benefits, a broker located in Oklahoma City, specializes in servicing small group employers and middle-market clients in the South Central region.
    • Orion Investment Advisors, jointly acquired with DiMeo Schneider & Associates, is an investment consultant in McLean, VA, that specializes in asset management for various associations across the country.
    • International Insurance Group, a P&C broker located in Flagstaff, AZ, offers Mexico cross-border personal lines auto coverage to clients throughout the country through both a wholesale and a retail channel.
    • Associated Insurance Centers, a full-service P&C broker that services local business as well as individuals throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, boasts 15 offices across Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

    Let’s give a warm welcome to our newest NFP team members. We’re glad you’re here!

  • New Program. New Cross-Selling Opportunity. Introducing Hole-in-One U.S.A.

    Now you can offer your clients coverage that doesn’t gamble with their game. NFP’s Hole-in-One U.S.A. program offers coverage solutions that won’t leave the success of their tournament up to chance. When your clients offer hole-in-one golf competitions, sporting events or other games of chance, we offer range of customized solutions. This program allows them to offer exciting prizes at a nominal fee, without taking the risk.

    Learn more about our Hole-in-One U.S.A. program here. Then talk with your clients that might benefit from this program. We can help them make their next tournament more fun with less risk. It’s a win-win!

  • How the West Is Being Won

    NFP’s growing West Coast and Mountain regions recently held their annual meetings. In Northern California, the group met new producers, learned new ways of selling and enjoyed some team-building exercises led by Managing Director John Hohman. John then joined Managing Director Paul Saich in Southern California, where the group focused on retirement, benefits and property & casualty. Members of the Executive Management Committee also talked generally about the state of the company, where we're going and how each employee, principal and contractor has a role in helping us get there. Finally, the two-day conference in Scottsdale, AZ, focused on helping each team and office in this up-and-coming area understand what other solutions exist within their local region to enable integrated selling. The event also featured great market updates from some of our wholesalers.

    Three conferences in four days is a big deal! Special thanks to all teams involved who ensured these three events went off without a hitch so attendees could focus on learning and growing. We also recognize our valued carrier partners – Unum, Principal and Aflac – for sponsoring our meetings. We’re already looking forward to next year!

    Northern California
    Northern California

    Southern California
    Southern California

    Scottsdale
    Scottsdale

  • Get Caught Up With Our New Benefits Compliance Podcasts

    Episode 9
    Join us as we discuss the origin of the term "essential health benefits" (EHBs) and how the AHCA may affect EHBs for employer-sponsored group health plans. We also dive into the background of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and its reports, walk through the latest CBO report on the AHCA and discuss how the Senate's deliberation may be affected by the CBO report in its task of repealing and replacing the ACA.

    Listen Here »

    Episode 10
    In this episode, we take on the definition and background relating to a single-payer health care system. We’ll discuss the pros and cons, history and background of a single-payer system, including attempts to implement such a system at the state level and federal discussion as the debate on health care reform continues in the U.S. Senate.

    Listen Here »

  • PeopleFirst

  • PeopleFirst Community PeopleFirst Recognition
    Mary Lou Hatcher

    Unsung Hero, Mary Lou Hatcher

    Mary Lou Hatcher, Sr. Account Manager, in our Glendale, AZ, office, is a true team player. Her drive and outstanding work shine and she’s always there to support those who need it. She consistently goes above and beyond and does so quickly and competently. Clients love Mary Lou and are always providing unsolicited compliments — contacting the office to say what a tremendous help she is. Additionally, Mary Lou consistently steps up to help other employees in our company and has received kudos for handling situations that aren't in her job description. Mary Lou, it’s clear that we all think you’re the best.

    Mary Lou loves being a mother and grandmother. She’s an avid muscle car fan and recently completed a training course at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving. Mary Lou also believes in giving back to the community through volunteering.

    Unsung Hero, Gina Julian

    Gina Julian, our Wellness Consultant in our Norwell, CT, office, is – in a word – wonderful! She leads by example, has a positive attitude and contributes immensely to our internal and external wellness initiatives. Her personality and genuine passion for well-being show in her work. Our recent Spring Fest, where we have daily wellness-driven activities such as smoothie bars, yoga, DermaScans and chair massages, wouldn’t have been the success it was without Gina. She’s always willing to share her deep knowledge of healthy initiatives, and does so enthusiastically with her colleagues and clients. We couldn’t agree more with the glowing feedback Gina receives each time she interacts with one of our clients. She’s an integral part of the fun and healthy atmosphere at the Norwell office, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

    Originally from southern California, Gina’s called New England home for over 10 years and loves everything the region has to offer — except the snow. She enjoys hiking, cooking, brewing beer with her husband and playing games during family vacations at Cape Cod.

    Gina Julian

    NFP Senior Director Earns Top Honor

    Congratulations to Sue Donohue, Senior Director of Account Management in our Norwell office, who was named one of EBA's Most Influential Women in Benefit Advising! Sue does it all as a mentor to new recruits, an event organizer and a savvy business mind (she recently saved us over $1 million on a pharmacy contract!). See how Sue shines.

  • PeopleFirst Community PeopleFirst Community

    Work Better with Workplace

    Wow! Workplace is a hit, and we want to thank all of you for helping us to start it off right. We especially want to send a big shout out to everyone who worked so hard on our June 15 launch. We couldn’t have done this without your dedication and tireless efforts. More than 4,000 NFP employees and contractors were invited to Workplace, and to date, almost two-thirds have claimed their accounts! If you haven’t yet claimed yours, please log in today.

    Let us help make Workplace work for you. For example, we promised less emails, and yet your inbox is probably being flooded with email notifications. We hear you. Here’s how to customize your settings so you get fewer Workplace emails:

    1. If you’re accessing Workplace on a desktop or laptop, look for the gear symbol in the top right corner of your screen and place your cursor over it.
    2. From the drop-down menu, click on Settings.
    3. Click Notifications on the menu that appears on the left side of your screen, then set your preferences for Workplace, email, desktop/mobile and text messages.

    Customize notifications about select groups or people. Go to the individual group or person’s page. You’ll see a box with the word Notifications on the bottom right corner of the cover photo. If you don’t, click the ellipses (three dots) and you’ll see a Notifications option. Click the box to select what notifications you want to receive, if any. Choose among:

    • All — Get notified of all activity.
    • Highlights — Get notified only about top activity.
    • None — Receive no notifications, unless you’re tagged or actively browsing your newsfeed.

    Whether you choose to receive email notifications or not, be sure to check into Workplace regularly for important company updates. For more helpful tips, check out our NFP Workplace FAQ.

    Congratulations to our Workplace raffle winners! Forty lucky employees’ names were drawn from a raffle that contained the first 400 people to set up their Workplace accounts. Check out this Workplace post to see if you won. And thanks again to all of you for working with us to make NFP the place to be!

    Questions? Contact Us.


    All Smiles and Red Noses in the Northeast

    You can’t be blue when wearing a red nose! Some of our Northeast offices showed their support for Red Nose Day by wearing red noses around the office. Red Nose Day is a fundraising campaign run by the nonprofit organization Comic Relief, Inc., a charity dedicated to ending child poverty in some of the poorest communities in the U.S. and around the world. We’re proud of our offices that contributed.

    Red Nose
    Mt. Laurel Office
    L to R:
    John Graziano, Michael Hughey, Jeff Gould, Audrey Foti, Jackie Keys, Sonam Govani, Dylan Rosu, Stephen Lishnoff, Joshua Strauss


    Red Nose
    Plainview Office
    Top L to R:
    Nick Schiano, Maria Beattie, Diana Parcase, Paulette Shore, Mike Behan
    Bottom L to R: Justin Galacz, Jason Saposnick, Andrea Griffin, Daniel Sandoval


    Plainview, NY, Goes Casual for a Cause

    As a result of a weeklong fundraiser where employees paid to dress down, our Plainview, NY, office was able to present John Theissen of the John Theissen's Children Foundation a check for $2,674 to help his amazing Long Island-based charity stay open. The foundation has been open for 25 years and is focused on helping sick and underprivileged children through holding holiday toy drives, collecting back-to-school supplies and even hosting birthday parties! Thank you to our Plainview employees for supporting this amazing cause!

    Casual for a Cause
    L to R: Donna Connelly, Andrea Griffin, Leandra Baroncelli, Ron Cubicciotti, John Theissen, Marc Blumencranz, Sabrina Bess, Paulette Shore, Diana Caporale


    The Team That Paints Together Laughs Together

    Pair up our Warrington, PA, employees with paint and you get some interesting results! Employees enjoyed an artistic afternoon at Painting with a Twist, where they got to flex their creative muscle and enjoy time with the team. Nice work!

    Paint


    Celebrating Theme Week in the Mountain States

    A theme for every day … Several of our offices in Arizona came together to participate in a fun themed week during the short Memorial Day holiday work week.

    Scottsdale
    Tuesday in our Scottsdale, AZ, office
    L to R:
    Heather Erickson, Jody Buras, Ivonne Ronquillo, Dina Fink, Darlene Gerhart, Trace Kalainov, Mary Schnuck, Jan Erickson, Alicia Rhodes


    Lake Havasu
    Wednesday in our Lake Havasu, AZ, office
    L to R:
    Steve Bentley, Cherie Bentley, Jeanie Weaver, Julie Matzat, Pam Quinn, Lisa Nowlin, Julie Grace, Rebecca Gravelle


    Glendale
    Thursday in our Glendale, AZ, office
    L to R:
    Angie Murphy, Lisa Lard, Lisa Black, Terri Chester, Lisa Sturgill, Tina Yont, Rena Bell, Tracie Obermiller, Connie Boden, Betzy Arreola, Theresa Newman


    Prescott
    Friday in our Prescott Crossings, AZ, office
    L to R:
    Bev Thacker, Edie Harker, Jakie Hardwick, Lara Hawkins, Debbie Knack, Angie Cloud, Sherrie Greene, Cindy Williams

  • PeopleFirst Well Being PeopleFirst Well-Being

    One Mile CoBI Tribute Trek

    Josh Strauss, Office Administrator, and Jackie Keys, VP and Account Executive, of our Mt. Laurel, NJ, office, participated in a mile-long walk to benefit the NFP-sponsored Council on Brain Injury (CoBI). CoBI is a nonprofit client of NFP that’s dedicated to the research, advocacy and prevention of brain injuries. This particular benefit is a tribute trek in memory of David Strauss, Josh’s father, who passed away in 2004 from a brain tumor. David Strauss was one of the founding partners of ReMed Recovery, a business that works with people who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. David’s work significantly improved the quality of life for people with brain injuries.

    ALS
    L to R: Melissa Hochbaum, Josh Strauss, Nancy Strauss, Jackie Keys


    July Is Hydration Awareness Month … H2 Oh the Benefits

    You know when eight isn’t enough? When we’re talking about H20. We’ve all heard the age-old advice of drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day, but you may actually need more. Each individual has different hydration needs based on several factors. These include how much you exercise/perspire, the environment or climate around you, if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, and your health status — because if you’re sick with a fever or vomiting, you lose more fluids.

    According to the Mayo Clinic, an adequate intake for a healthy man is about 13 cups (three liters). For a healthy woman, it's about nine cups (2.2 liters). Sounds like a lot, right? Here are a few tips on how to stay hydrated this summer:

    • Eat your water. Watermelon, celery, cucumbers, soups and other water-dense foods can help keep you hydrated without you even realizing it.
    • There’s an app for that. Actually, there are several apps that can help you keep track of your daily water intake. Try Waterlogged for iPhone or Water Your Body for Android and iPhones.
    • Add your own flavor. Try adding mint, lemon, cucumber or other fruit to add flavor without adding calories.

    Using these water intake hacks will help you reap the benefits of staying hydrated. Why is hydration important? Water affects so many different systems and parts of your body. For example, water can benefit your:

    • Skin – You can spend a lot of money on creams and lotions to help keep your skin clear and glowing, but drinking water really is one of the best things you can do to help your skin glow from the inside.
    • Appetite – Drinking water can help suppress your appetite. Feel hungry? You might actually just be thirsty. Next time you get a craving, try having a glass of water. It’s likely that the craving will subside.
    • Energy – Staying fully hydrated helps to keep your energy levels up. Even minor dehydration can make you tired. So recharge, refresh, and refuel yourself often with some good old H20.

    Recognize the Signs of a Heart Attack

    We all know someone who’s been affected by cardiovascular disease. In fact, this disease – which includes coronary heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure – accounts for about one out of every three deaths in the U.S., or 2,200 American deaths every day. The good news is that there are steps we can take every day to reduce our risk of developing heart disease. One of the most important things you can do is to make it a point to remember the signs of a heart attack.

    Know the Signs
    Heart attacks often differ between men and women:

    Symptoms in Both Men and Women

    • Squeezing chest pain or pressure
    • Shortness of breath
    • Sweating
    • Tightness in chest
    • Pain spreading to shoulders, neck, arm or jaw
    • Feeling of heartburn or indigestion with or without nausea and vomiting
    • Sudden dizziness or brief loss of consciousness

    Symptoms More Likely in Women

    • Indigestion or gas-like pain
    • Dizziness or nausea
    • Unexplained weakness or fatigue
    • Discomfort or pain between the shoulder blades
    • Recurring chest discomfort
    • Sense of impending doom

    What To Do
    If someone near you is experiencing a heart attack:

    1. Call 911 immediately.
    2. Provide one aspirin to chew.
    3. Give CPR if the person isn’t breathing.
    4. Get to the hospital quickly.

    American Heart Association
    NFP is proud to support the American Heart Association and join the fight against heart disease and stroke. We’re committed to engaging all employees in raising awareness and funds for heart health education, advocacy and community programs. Check out the NFP AHA website on how you can get involved and join Team NFP in a Heart Walk this fall.


    Increase Your Well-Being with AcadaMe

    Take the opportunity to learn something new … and healthy! We recently announced we’ve added well-being training topics to AcadaMe to help you as an NFP employee improve your overall health and well-being. With the summer months here, we encourage you to listen to the Sun Safety podcast, hosted by UnitedHealthcare, which focuses on the prevention of sun- and heat-related illnesses. You don’t have to be a UHC member, and it’s easy to access the podcast:

    1. Log onto AcadaMe.
    2. Find the Well-Being content by clicking Catalog » Category. Select PeopleFirst. Then click OK and then Search.
    3. Scroll down the list of topics until you find Sun Safety.

    Questions? Contact learning@nfp.com.


    NYC Kickball Team Champions Bring It!

    Our NYC office kickball team had a great season! They lost to only one team all season long, but then came back and beat that very same team 10 – 9 in the championship game. Way to go, NYC!

    NYC Kickball
    Back L to R: Eric Kosmack, Sam Ario, Colin Dolph, Brendan Sheehan, Michael DeCordova
    Front L to R: Todd Grundleger, Stacey Bercu, Alexa Carnavalla, Danielle Schaffer, Allison Sciaretta, Sarah Berkley, Giada Zucchet, Mike DeVito, Zarina Isakova
    Bottom: Alex Sandler

  • PeopleFirst Development PeopleFirst Development

    Your Mandatory Compliance Training Is Here

    It’s that time again! Take your mandatory compliance training now and then enjoy the rest of your summer. NFP is committed to conducting business ethically and to protecting the confidential data of our clients, colleagues and vendors. That’s why we’re conducting compliance training on AcadaMe now through Aug. 14. During this seven-week open training period, all employees and long-term contractors are required to take Cyber Security Basics, Ethics and Code of Conduct, and HIPAA (for select offices). Complete your training by Aug. 14 and then treat yourself to something nice. You earned it! We appreciate your support in this important initiative.

  • Smooth Sailing with P&C Coverage

    Bill Bannon, one of our SVPs, recently sat down with Property Casualty 360 to share insights into how clients with boats, yachts and other watercraft can minimize their risk and maximize protection. In particular, Bill recommends advisors ask their boating clients questions about boat licenses, the geographical location where boating activities will take place, how many people should be covered and what kinds of activities – like waterskiing – need to be protected but may not be automatically covered by all plans. Working with clients to meet their diverse needs — that’s the NFP Way.

    Check out the full article here.

  • NFP Secures Coverage for Russian Documentary

    How far do we go to build solid relationships and put people first? The Indianapolis Motor Speedway contacted our Indianapolis office, seeking assistance in providing coverage for a Russian film and news crew that was coming to the Indianapolis 500. The news crew’s last-minute decision to attend the race gave our team a short three days to obtain the required coverage.

    First, a little background … for the second year in a row, a Russian race driver, Mikhail Aleshin, aka “The Russian Rocket” qualified for a starting position — a feat never before accomplished before in the history of the race. At the last minute, President Putin decided to send one of his own news teams to prepare a documentary that would be broadcast throughout Russia declaring Mikhail Aleshin a national hero.

    The news team arrived in Indianapolis after a 20-hour flight from Moscow and were told to "stand down" until coverage was bound. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway required, without negotiation, a $5 million total limit for general liability coverage. Our team quickly went to our list of specialty carriers to obtain coverage. Despite appeals and explanations, we received 20 different declinations because the news team was from Russia.

    With our backs to the wall and Moscow hinting that this was an international incident, we found an insurance company that immediately wrote the coverage and saved the day. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was thrilled that the coverage was placed under their criteria, and we believe that NFP’s relationship with the venue was only more deeply enhanced through this ordeal. Regardless of how we’re tested, our commitment to our relationships with our clients and their success is always what keeps us growing as a company.

  • Spend Smart with Basic Economy Fares

    You may have noticed that many of the major airlines are introducing new “basic economy fares.” What you may not know is that these fares are typically limited to transporting you from one destination to the next. Seat assignments, carry-on luggage, changes and cancellations often cost extra. These basic fares can save you money if you’re able to avoid these “extras.” Otherwise, those fees can add up. This means that sometimes the slightly higher fare ends up being the more cost-effective option. To help you be more aware of what may or may not be included when choosing the right fare for you, we’ve listed some of the common restrictions you’ll find with basic economy fares. These restrictions may apply even if you have status with the airline:

    • Flight changes or refunds are not allowed
    • Last-group boarding
    • No pre-assigned seating; seats are assigned by the carrier at check-in
    • Not eligible for upgrades
    • Only one carry-on item that fits under the seat in front of you allowed, with no overhead bin access

    You might also want to read up on basic economy fares with these top three carriers: American, Delta and United. Have bags to check in? That can change everything. Here’s a reference guide to help you to determine each carrier’s baggage fees. You may want to check size and weight limits on each carrier’s site.

    Airline Carrier Baggage Fee Details
    United Click here to access their “Baggage Calculator” to determine service charges for any United itinerary.
    Delta Baggage allowances vary depending on fare class and member reward status. Compare here.
    Southwest Two free checked bags with every ticket.
    American Fare class and member reward status determine baggage allowances. Compare here.
    JetBlue Different fare options include different numbers of checked bags. Review here.

    Concur has been updated to alert you each time a basic economy fare is chosen and to outline possible restrictions. We hope this helps you make the best choice for comfortable and responsible travel. Happy and safe travels!

  • And Now for Your NFP.com Traffic Update

    Traffic to NFP.com is ramping up. And there’s data to support that visitors are engaging with our website content, particularly on our Careers page. Here are a few, drive-by stats for you to check out:

    • We’ve had a 10% increase in engaged visitor traffic from April — that’s 40,673 total visits!
    • New interest is evidenced via contacts from CA, MI, NC and NY.
    • 36 RFPs were submitted in May — a 177% increase from May 2016.
    • Organic search is driving 50% of conversions.
    • LinkedIn and Facebook are dominating our social traffic.

    About 576 people per day are curious to know more about NFP. And we’re happy to provide them with all the information about our terrific services and people. Thanks to all of you for keeping us growing in the right direction and making NFP a company that people want to be a part of. Stay tuned for more traffic updates on NFP.com.

  • Learn What’s New in Washington: Health Care & Tax Reform

    The Senate Speaks and Proposes Its Own Version of Health Care Legislation
    On June 22, 2017, Senate Republicans released their budget reconciliation ACA-repeal-and-replacement proposal, the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), and Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants to put it to a vote before the July 4 recess. Could the bill pass? If so, how would the Senate’s bill would affect current health care legislation.

  • Social Media

    Get the word out on your published thought leadership, panel appearances and professional achievements. Submit your stories for our rapidly growing LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook audiences:

    1. Fill out the brief NFP Social Media Post Submission Form. The form is located on NFP Brand Central, where you’ll find tools and support you need for NFP-related branding, compliance, marketing and public relations.
    2. Email the completed form and any related photos to communications@nfp.com. Our staff will review the content to see if and where we’ll post your achievements.
    3. Continue sharing your local interest stories – charity events, team building, etc. – on Workplace. Workplace stories will occassionally get picked up by our team for coverage on NFP’s social media.

    Make sure you’re fully connected to NFP. Follow, friend and connect with us on social media!