Ask Stacy Insurance

05/04/2026

“Never discuss religion, politics… or insurance at Thanksgiving dinner.”

One of my newest clients recently had one of the hardest business conversations they’ve ever faced — breaking up with the same insurance agent their company had worked with for nearly 50 years.

Think about that.

Generational relationships.
Holiday cards.
Claims calls.
Renewals year after year.

At some point, the relationship became personal.

But as the business evolved, so did the risks, exposures, and insurance needs.

These conversations are emotional. Awkward. Often avoided for years because nobody wants to feel like they’re betraying someone who’s been there forever.

But if a major uninsured or underinsured loss happens, the breakup suddenly becomes much easier — because the question changes to:

“Why didn’t we address this sooner?”

The best insurance relationships don’t just provide comfort. They challenge your strategy, evolve with your business, and make sure your protection keeps pace with your growth.

Because insurance isn’t about avoiding difficult conversations.

It’s about surviving the difficult moments.

Marshall+Sterling

04/30/2026

One of the biggest mistakes businesses make in commercial insurance is choosing the policy before choosing the broker.

Real Example: Imagine you get a better premium insurance quote from your broker- move forward, cancel your prior policy, only to get a bill for $56,333 to retroactively pay your cancelled policy!

Today I’m binding coverage for a candy wholesaler/importer- Package, Products Recall, Inventory, Cyber, Employment Practices, US & Global hired and non-owned auto, Workers Compensation and Umbrella. But- I am NOT issuing coverage for Ocean Marine.

This account was a perfect example of why policy wording matters just as much as premium.

On the surface, the insured’s Ocean Marine policy looked solid, but buried in the form were major problems.

The insured was underreporting inventory values by approximately 80%, triggering a co-insurance issue that would dramatically reduce a claim payment after a loss.

Even worse, the policy contained a retroactive fully earned premium audit provision if canceled mid-term — meaning canceling the policy could have effectively tripled the audit premium retroactively ($56,333)

After carefully reviewing the wording, I found an exception in the contract stating co-insurance would not apply if excess inventory coverage existed elsewhere.

So... rather than triggering cancellation penalties, I creatively:

• Added inventory onto the package policy as Business Personal Property
• Structured it with a $500,000 deductible
• Allowed that policy to function as excess over the Ocean Marine
• Avoided the co-insurance issue

We will let the Ocean Marine policy expire naturally. Once expired, we’ll transition the client into a properly structured Stock Throughput program with broader protection and — surprisingly — a lower premium.

This is the difference between simply selling policies and truly understanding risk transfer.

Sophisticated insurance is not just about premium.
It’s about strategy, structure, and reading the fine print.
And this is why you chose your broker before your policy!

Marshall+Sterling

04/27/2026

There’s no substitute for being on-site.

Recently, I spent time at my client’s pasta manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania, walking the operation firsthand with one of their executives—reviewing production flow, equipment, property values, and supply chain exposures.

The best insurance outcomes come from truly understanding how a business operates—not just reviewing an application. Seeing the risks firsthand helps us identify gaps, strengthen underwriting narratives, and position accounts properly with carriers.

For manufacturers, details matter. Property values, business interruption planning, product recall, and supply chain exposures all directly impact both pricing and coverage.

Taking the time to be on-site helps secure broader protection, stronger terms, and more competitive premiums.

Risk management starts with understanding the operation.

Choose your agent before you choose your policy.

04/22/2026

Cyber risk is one of the most misunderstood exposures in today’s market.

Many organizations haven’t been shown how it actually responds in a real-world event.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. But it does need to be structured correctly.

Below is a practical example I put together for a client today- of what happens when a cyber event hits—and how the policy is designed to respond.

04/22/2026

Our Marshall+Sterling March Annual Sales Conference: I walked away incredibly grateful.

Grateful to be part of a company that not only brings together some of the best minds in insurance, but truly listens to its employee-owners. That kind of culture — where voices are heard and ideas shape the future — is rare, and it’s what continues to set us apart.

Being surrounded by this level of expertise, collaboration, and shared commitment to doing things the right way is something I don’t take for granted.

A big thank you to Daymond John for an inspiring keynote. Your story, perspective, and practical advice on resilience, discipline, and ownership really hit home — not just in business, but in how we show up every day.
Looking forward to carrying this momentum forward.

07/13/2025

Life changes = Risk changes
Change doesn’t have to be hard!

Life changes fast— your coverage should change with it. Whether you have bought a new car, welcomed a new family member, or launched a business, every milestone shifts your risk profile.
At Marshall+Sterling, we help you stay ahead of risk with coverage that evolves alongside your life.
✔ Schedule a review with us today
✔ Ask about bundling for better value
✔ Explore options to reduce your total cost of risk
Secure your success— with coverage that works as hard as you do.
https://marshallsterling.com/contact-us/
+Sterling

07/12/2025

It is with great pleasure to announce that Jacob J Katz & Company is now a division of Marshall & Sterling. I will bring my expertise to Marshall & Sterling's Commercial Division, specializing in the needs of Mid to Large Commerical Clients in NY & NJ, looking for risk analysis, custom tailored insurance products and of course unmatched service. Please indulge me in learning more about the organization which will behind me and all my current and future clients. Marshall+Sterling

11/28/2024

Don’t be a turkey! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

11/25/2024

Finally- passed Friday November 22, 2024: No more various definitions of windstorm losses. Coming soon: One standard definition across all NY insurance carriers of what the definition of windstorm is. This is much needed for our coastal friends and those others with special windstorm deductibles!

Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed A.2866/S.4199 into law, authorizing the New York State Department of Financial Services to create a single, standardized definition of “windstorm” in homeowners insurance policies. This long-awaited legislation marks a significant milestone, bringing clarity and cons...

11/11/2024