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Protect Your Business with Comprehensive Insurance Solutions
For decades, businesses have relied on Tooher-Ferraris Insurance Group for their insurance needs.
At Tooher-Ferraris Insurance Group, we recognize that each business has its own challenges and risks. That’s why we offer a wide range of business insurance solutions to protect your company from the unexpected. Our collaborative approach helps identify your loss exposure, recommend strategies, and implement insurance and risk management programs to safeguard your business and support your employees. We go beyond the transaction.

Commercial Insurance Solutions
Safeguard your business with comprehensive commercial insurance solutions tailored to your industry. From property and liability coverage to specialized protections, our policies help shield your operations, assets, and employees from potential risks, ensuring your business stays resilient and prepared for the unexpected.

Surety Bonds
Ensure your business meets contractual and regulatory obligations with our comprehensive surety bond solutions. Whether for construction projects, compliance, or financial guarantees, our tailored bonds provide the security and trust you need to build strong business relationships and complete projects with confidence.

Employee Benefits
Empower your business with comprehensive employee benefits solutions that attract and retain top talent. From health and wellness programs to employee benefits benchmarking, our solutions provide the coverage and support your employees need, while ensuring your business stays compliant with regulations and manages costs effectively.

Specialty Insurance Solutions
With strong relationships across various industries, our dedicated team is equipped to provide insights and guidance tailored to your industry’s specific challenges.
Expertise-Driven Specialty Insurance Solutions
Navigating Unique Risks with Industry Insights and Strong Relationships
At Tooher-Ferraris, our deep understanding of specific industries sets us apart. We know that each sector comes with its own unique risks, and our specialized insurance solutions are crafted to address those nuances. With strong relationships across various industries, our dedicated team is equipped to provide insights and guidance tailored to your industry’s specific challenges.
Let us help you safeguard your business with the right coverage, backed by expertise you can trust.
Explore our specialty insurance offerings and discover how we can support your unique needs.
Expertise-Driven Specialty Insurance Solutions
At Tooher-Ferraris, our deep understanding of specific industries sets us apart. We know that each sector comes with its own unique risks, and our specialized insurance solutions are crafted to address those nuances. With strong relationships across various industries, our dedicated team is equipped to provide insights and guidance tailored to your industry’s specific challenges.
Let us help you safeguard your business with the right coverage, backed by expertise you can trust.
Explore our specialty insurance offerings and discover how we can support your unique needs.
Navigating Unique Risks with Industry Insights and Strong Relationships

Arborists
Specialized coverage for arborists, protecting your business from equipment damage, property liability, and worksite injuries.

Custom Home Builders & Remodelers
Comprehensive coverage for custom home builders and remodelers, ensuring protection from construction liabilities.

Equine
Tailored equine insurance for stables, trainers, and riders, offering protection from horse-related risks and liabilities.

Flood Insurance
Comprehensive flood insurance coverage designed to protect your home or business from costly water damage.

Hospitality
Tailored insurance for the hospitality industry, offering protection for property, employees, and guests.

Manufacturing
Ensure the smooth operation of your manufacturing business with insurance tailored to address industry-specific challenges. Our coverage includes product liability, property damage, workforce safety, and much more, helping you minimize disruptions and financial risks while keeping production on track.

Non-Profit
Comprehensive insurance solutions for non-profits, protecting your mission while minimizing financial risk, and covering your organization, volunteers, and directors from potential liabilities.

Pollution
Tailored coverage for pollution incidents, ensuring your business is protected from legal, remediation, and contamination costs.

Real Estate
Safeguarding your properties is crucial whether you’re a private real estate investor, REIT, property manager, or operator of self-managed condo associations. Our tailored insurance solutions protect against property damage, liability, and operational risks

Specialty Trade Contractors
Insurance solutions for contractors, safeguarding your business from job site accidents, property damage, liability claims, and contractual liabilities.

Storage Tank Pollution
Protect your business from the financial and environmental risks associated with storage tank leaks and contamination. Our storage tank pollution insurance offers coverage for cleanup costs, third-party liabilities, and regulatory compliance, ensuring you are safeguarded against unexpected spills and environmental hazards.
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While many associate environmental liability with industries such as manufacturing and construction, the truth is that a wide range of sectors face significant, often overlooked, pollution exposures. Failing to address these hidden risks can result in severe financial and reputational consequences.
Let’s explore how environmental liability extends far beyond the obvious.
Real Estate: More Than Just Location, Location, Location
The real estate industry carries substantial environmental risks that go beyond leaky pipes. Consider the potential for soil and groundwater contamination from past land uses, such as former gas stations or dry cleaners. Even seemingly innocuous activities like landscaping can introduce pesticides and herbicides into the environment, leading to liability issues down the line. Asbestos in older buildings, lead paint, and mold growth also present significant environmental hazards that property owners and developers must address. A knowledgeable insurance broker can help assess these risks and secure appropriate coverage.
Agriculture: Cultivating More Than Just Crops
Agriculture, while vital, also presents various environmental liabilities. The use of fertilizers and pesticides can lead to water pollution and soil degradation. Animal waste management poses risks of nutrient runoff into waterways and the release of greenhouse gases. Even seemingly sustainable practices can have unforeseen environmental consequences. Farmers and agricultural businesses need to understand these exposures and work with an experienced insurance broker to develop robust risk management strategies and insurance plans.
Healthcare: A Duty to Care Extends to the Environment
The healthcare industry, focused on healing and well-being, also faces environmental liabilities. Hospitals and medical facilities generate various hazardous wastes, including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and infectious materials. Improper disposal of these substances can lead to soil and water contamination, impacting both the environment and public health. Furthermore, the increasing focus on sustainability and reducing carbon footprints adds another layer of environmental responsibility. Healthcare organizations need to partner with a qualified insurance broker to ensure they have adequate environmental liability coverage.
Beyond the Obvious: Other Hidden Exposures
The list doesn’t end here. Even seemingly low-risk industries can face unexpected environmental liabilities. Educational institutions might encounter issues with laboratory waste or asbestos in older buildings. Retail businesses can be held responsible for improper disposal of electronic waste or spills of cleaning chemicals. Service industries might face liabilities related to vehicle emissions or the use of hazardous materials in their operations. A proactive approach, guided by a trusted insurance broker, is essential for identifying and mitigating these hidden risks across all sectors.
Protecting Your Future
Don’t let hidden environmental risks jeopardize your business or future. Tooher-Ferraris Insurance Group provides comprehensive insurance solutions tailored to your specific industry needs. Our team of certified insurance brokers offers expert guidance and access to a wide range of coverage options, including environmental liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance services, and commercial property insurance.
Contact us today to discuss your unique exposures and secure the protection you deserve.
When most people hear the words life insurance, they think of a death benefit designed to cover funeral costs and replace lost income. While those are important functions, they only scratch the surface of what life insurance can provide. In reality, life insurance is one of the most overlooked yet powerful assets in a financial plan, offering unique benefits for families, business owners, and individuals at different stages of life.
Tooher-Ferraris Insurance Group works with clients to uncover these broader advantages, tailoring life insurance strategies that protect families, support businesses, and align with long-term financial goals.
Below are key ways our life insurance services strengthen financial security and support long-term goals beyond their traditional role.
More Than a Safety Net: Life Insurance as a Financial Tool
Life insurance is not just about protecting loved ones after loss. It can also support wealth transfer, estate planning, and tax efficiency. Policies like whole life and universal life accumulate cash value, which can be accessed to supplement retirement income or cover unexpected expenses. In fact, according to research, nearly 60% of policyholders are unaware of the living benefits life insurance may provide.
Supporting Wealth Transfer and Estate Planning
For high-net-worth individuals, life insurance is an effective vehicle for transferring wealth to future generations. By integrating policies into an estate plan, families can provide heirs with liquidity to cover estate taxes, ensuring assets remain intact. This helps preserve businesses, real estate, or investments without forcing heirs to sell them quickly.
Business Continuity and Succession Planning
Business owners often underestimate how life insurance coverage safeguards operations. A buy-sell agreement funded by life insurance ensures surviving partners can purchase an owner’s share, protecting both the business and the family’s financial security.
Key person insurance is another important strategy, providing coverage if a critical leader or specialist passes away, preventing disruption to daily operations and revenue streams.
Tax Planning Opportunities
Life insurance can also play a significant role in tax planning. Proceeds are generally received by beneficiaries free of federal income tax, and certain policies allow for tax-deferred cash value growth. This creates opportunities to manage tax liabilities strategically, particularly for those seeking to balance retirement income sources or reduce exposure to estate taxes.
Tips for Choosing the Right Policy
Selecting the right life insurance policy depends on individual goals and life stage. A young family may prioritize affordable term coverage to secure income replacement, while older individuals may value permanent policies for estate planning.
Business owners should consider specialized life insurance coverage like key person or buy-sell funding. Working with an experienced insurance agency helps ensure policies align with both immediate needs and long-term objectives.
Partner with Experts Who See the Bigger Picture
Life insurance is more than a policy; it is a strategic asset that supports financial security, legacy planning, and business continuity. At Tooher-Ferraris Insurance Group, our specialists help individuals and businesses uncover the often-overlooked potential of life insurance, guiding them in selecting policies that align with their goals and financial strategies.
With over 90 years of expertise, we deliver tailored solutions that provide peace of mind and stability.
Contact us today to see how the right life insurance plan can strengthen your financial future.
Mid-sized employers often face significant hurdles when trying to control their healthcare expenses.
Traditional fully-insured plans often mean relinquishing control and transparency, leading to unpredictable premium hikes.
However, with innovative self-funding strategies, mid-sized businesses can gain significant leverage. This approach, when properly managed and supported by comprehensive workers’ compensation insurance services and astute employment practices insurance, allows companies to tailor benefits, control costs, and invest in employee well-being.
The Self-Funding Advantage: Control and Transparency
Self-funding fundamentally shifts the paradigm of healthcare benefits. Instead of paying a fixed premium to an insurance carrier regardless of claims, employers directly assume the financial responsibility for employee healthcare claims. This direct payment model offers unparalleled transparency into claims data. Access to this granular data empowers employers to identify spending patterns, pinpoint areas for cost containment, and design plans that truly meet their workforce’s needs. For instance, data might reveal a high prevalence of a specific chronic condition, allowing the employer to implement targeted wellness programs or negotiate better rates with specialized providers.
Furthermore, self-funded plans are typically exempt from state premium taxes, which can range from 2-3% of premium value, and are not subject to state-mandated benefits. This federal preemption under ERISA provides immense flexibility in plan design, allowing businesses to create highly customized benefit packages that align with their budget and employee demographics.
Innovative Plan Designs: Tailoring Benefits for Impact
Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all healthcare. Self-funded employers can implement innovative plan designs that maximize value and engagement. Options include:
Reference-Based Pricing: Instead of relying on traditional network contracts, employers pay providers a multiple of Medicare rates, encouraging cost-effective care. This can lead to substantial savings, with some reports indicating potential cost reductions of 10-30%.
Direct Provider Contracts: Bypassing traditional networks altogether, employers can contract directly with healthcare providers for specific services, often at a negotiated, lower rate.
Wellness-Focused Programs: Leveraging claims data, employers can design wellness initiatives that address specific health risks within their employee population, leading to healthier employees and reduced long-term costs. Incentivizing preventative care and healthy behaviors can significantly impact overall healthcare expenditures.
Group Medical Captives: For mid-sized employers, joining a group medical captive offers the benefits of self-funding with reduced risk. By pooling resources with other like-sized businesses, companies share risk and gain greater purchasing power, often receiving a return of unspent premiums. This makes self-funding accessible to companies with as few as 25 employees.
Stop-Loss Considerations: Mitigating Catastrophic Risk
While self-funding offers significant advantages, it also entails assuming greater financial risk. This is where stop-loss insurance becomes a critical safeguard. Stop-loss insurance protects employers from unexpectedly high or catastrophic claims that could otherwise devastate their finances. There are two main types:
Specific Stop-Loss: This protects against high claims from a single individual. For example, if an employee’s medical bills exceed a predetermined deductible (e.g., $50,000), the stop-loss policy covers the excess.
Aggregate Stop-Loss: This protects against the total claims for all employees exceeding a certain threshold over a policy period.
Employment Practices Insurance and Workers’ Compensation Insurance Services
Beyond healthcare, mid-sized employers must also consider other critical insurance needs. Self-funding often means a greater focus on internal processes and employee relations. Therefore, Employment Practices Insurance (EPLI) is essential. EPLI protects businesses from claims arising from wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and other employment-related allegations. As employers take on more direct control of benefits, the potential for such claims can increase, making EPLI a vital layer of protection.
Similarly, comprehensive workers’ compensation insurance services remain fundamental. While self-funded healthcare deals with general health claims, workers’ compensation specifically covers injuries or illnesses sustained by employees in the course of their employment. Some employers may even explore self-insured workers’ compensation plans, often with excess insurance to mitigate catastrophic injury costs. A coordinated approach to all these insurance needs ensures holistic risk management for mid-sized employers.
By embracing innovative plan designs, strategically utilizing stop-loss insurance, and leveraging predictive modeling, businesses can create highly effective and sustainable healthcare programs. When combined with critical protections like Employment Practices Insurance and comprehensive workers’ compensation insurance services, self-funding becomes a cornerstone of a resilient and rewarding employment strategy.
Tooher-Ferraris Insurance Group provides comprehensive insurance services, including workers’ compensation insurance and Employment Practices Insurance. Partner with us today to learn more about our tailored insurance solutions.