Allen Insurance and Financial Teams with US SAILING
9/1/10PORTSMOUTH, R.I. -- US SAILING, the National Governing Body of the sport, has partnered with HTH Worldwide and Allen Insurance and Financial to offer eligible US SAILING members a health care program designed specifically for sailors.
Click the headline above to read more.
It's the season for hurricane preparedness
8/31/10Allen Insurance and Financial is sharing hurricane preparedness guides for printing and sharing.
Weekly Market Commentary: Aug. 16, 2010
8/18/10"Slower pace" and "somber commentary" are two phrases from this week's Market Commentary.
Click to read more. (PDF, new window)
Pet Insurance: Because Fido is a Part of the Family, Too
8/16/10A pet is part of the family. And like other family members, pets have health needs. Pet insurance, available through Allen Insurance and Financial, helps pet owners manage the rising cost of treating their pet's illnesses and injuries.
A pet insurance plan includes:
• Visit any licensed veterinarian, including specialists.
• Get back 80 percent of bills for covered services. Plans cover office visits, lab tests, surgery and more.
• Pets as young as seven weeks old are covered — and no pet is too old for coverage.
For more information, contact Karen Reed at 236-4311 or 800-439-4311 or by email at kreed@alleninsuranceandfinancial.com.
Your Employer as a Partner in Health
8/9/10Eating healthy, exercising daily, losing weight, learning about health and wellness. And, of course, helping customers with all of their insurance needs. It's all in a day's work at Allen Insurance and Financial.
From left, Kathi Jones and Karen Reed of Allen Insurance and Financial; Troy Curtis, executive director, Pen Bay YMCA and Vikki Swan, health coach, Pen Bay's Health Connections.
For the past seven months, employees at Allen Insurance and Financial have been participating in a company wellness program. Set up by Health Connections, the Occupational Health department at Penobscot Bay Medical Center in cooperation with the Penobscot Bay YMCA in Rockport, the program is a model for other Midcoast businesses.
"The ideal wellness partnership is a collaborative effort and results in healthier, happier – and, ideally, more productive – employees," said James Carroll, Health Connections director. "With Allen Insurance and Financial, that's what we have."
Health Connections provides in-clinic or on-site services to employers for health screenings and risk assessments, hearing & vision checks, stress management, nutritional counseling, smoking cessation programs and more. These wellness programs are available to businesses and organizations of any size.
Teaming up with the Penobscot Bay YMCA in Rockport was an easy decision, said Carroll. In the case of the Allen program, the Y's ability to allow dues to be paid through payroll deduction, as well as advice from the Y's fitness experts and convenient class schedules, made the collaboration a natural fit.
"The Penobscot Bay YMCA is committed to creating a healthier Knox County," said Troy Curtis, the Y executive director. "As a part of this effort, the YMCA is working with local business to create policy and environmental changes that encourage increased physical activity and better nutritional habits. Employer-sponsored wellness programs such as the one at Allen Insurance and Financial is a great model program that the YMCA will look to share with other businesses in our service area."
"The YMCA and Health Connections have helped our employees reinforce a positive attitude about living healthier lives," said Sara Montgomery, Allen Insurance senior vice president. "This is important work and the rewards have been incredible."
Nearly every one of the 60 Allen employees is a Wellness Program participant. All together, Allen people have lost almost 200 pounds since January. They have dropped points on their blood pressure and cholesterol tests. One Allen participant has improved their blood pressure readings from 149/99 to 123/76. Another lost 30 pounds.
At Allen, gone is the honor-system snack box, stocked with crackers and candy bars. In its place, a special wellness bulletin board, with tips and recipes. Wellness-theme "lunch and learns" are scheduled quarterly.
Allen people in both the Camden and Rockland offices routinely carpool to the YMCA in Rockport or the Trade Winds Health Club for lunchtime exercise. A Weight Watchers class, open to the public, meets Tuesday evenings at the Allen offices in Camden.
One of the most successful participants has been commercial insurance specialist Karen Reed of Appleton who has lost 16 pounds since January and 76 pounds overall in the past year. Reed works in Allen's Camden office and is a Pen Bay Y member.
"I appreciate the fact that we have become very proactive in helping our employees accomplish a healthy lifestyle," said Reed. "The company is very flexible with scheduling so that we can take our break and lunch at the same time, carpool over to the Y and work out during out lunch break at the Y. Our group comes back refreshed from a good work out and ready to start the second half of our day."
The typical employee wellness program from Health Connections is offered in the workplace and includes:
• Computer software that assists in identifying health risks.
• A health coach to assist in choosing the health risks individual employees should focus on to begin making healthier lifestyle choices.
• Completely confidentiality.
• Communication between the wellness program and a participant's primary care provider, when requested.
• Software to help plot progress and improvements.
Penobscot Bay Medical Center is the leading regional referral hospital in Midcoast Maine and a member of the not-for-profit Pen Bay Healthcare family of services, which includes Pen Bay Physicians & Associates, Kno-Wal-Lin Home Care and Hospice, Quarry Hill Retirement Community and the Knox Center for Long Term Care. Through these organizations, and with a staff of more than 100 outstanding physicians and more than 1,500 healthcare professionals, we are able to provide the people of Midcoast Maine with a continuum of both routine and specialty patient-centered medical services. For more information, please visit pbmc.org.
The Pen Bay YMCA, located on Union Street in Rockport, serves people of all ages with wellness, recreational and social service opportunities that enrich and support lives. The 5,000 members and 16,000 program participants we engaged in YMCA activities last year represent only a fraction of the total population we serve. As a lead agent for Knox County's Healthy Maine Partnership, we distribute nearly a half million dollars each year to local agencies for physical activity, nutrition, and substance abuse prevention work, impacting the overall health and wellbeing of thousands of individuals living and working in Knox County. Online: penbayymca.net.
Weekly Market Commentary -- Aug. 3, 2010
8/4/10Has the market hit a rough patch? View this week's Market Commentary. (PDF, new window)
A Proud Supporter of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life
8/2/10
Allen Insurance and Financial continues its longstanding support of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, raising $4,400 for the 2010 Relay, held earlier this summer at Camden Hills Regional High School.
Overall, the company has raised $28,000 for cancer research since Relay was established in Knox County in 2003. Allen has received several American Cancer Society honors for this dedication, including an Outstanding Income Development Award in 2007.
Though Relay is the single biggest event on Allen's fundraising calendar, raising money for the American Cancer Society is a year-round activity. Yard sales, pot luck luncheons and other events help boost the total, as does a company match of employee funds raised. In addition, Allen provides free the use of a conference room for all of the Midcoast planning committee and team captain meetings.
Allen Relay team members in 2010 include: Karen Reed, Trisha Hill, Sara Montgomery, Kathi Jones, Sherree Craig, Meesha Luce, Leann McKusic, Lori Mank and Libby Davis.
Photo Caption: Allen Insurance and Financial Relay for Life team members for 2010 included, in the back row, from left, Libby Davis, Trisha Hill, Sherree Craig, Karen Reed and Leann McKusic. Front row, from left, Kathi Jones, Michael Mank and Sara Montgomery. Not pictured: Lori Mank. Their hats are pieces of (paper) birthday cake because the American Cancer Society is "the official sponsor of birthdays."
For more information about Relay for Life, visit relayforlife.org/midcoastme
Allen Financial's Rick Bagnall Joins
Million Dollar Roundtable
7/31/10Outstanding client service, ethics and professionalism have enabled Rick Bagnall, Voluntary Benefits Specialist at Allen Insurance and Financial, to achieve membership in the Million Dollar Round Table – the noted association of financial professionals.
Founded in 1927, Million Dollar Roundtable is an international, independent association of more than 31,500 members, or less than 1 percent, of the world's life insurance and financial services professionals from 464 companies in more than 80 nations and territories. MDRT membership is recognized internationally as the standard of sales excellence in the life insurance and financial services business.
"You can't reach this kind of career-defining milestone without following up your sales with excellent customer service," said Gil Fifield, president of Allen Insurance and Financial. "Rick's success is a testament to his emphasis on putting the client's needs first."
Bagnall joins Allen Insurance and Financial colleagues Michael Pierce and Peter Van Alstine as MDRT members.
MDRT requires members to adhere to a strict code of ethics, focus on providing top-notch client service and continue to grow professionally through involvement in at least one other industry association. For more information about Million Dollar Rountable, visit
Weekly Market Commentary
7/31/10In his appearance before Congress's Finance Committee, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke chose his words carefully. He mentioned that "the economic outlook remains nusually
uncertain." These remarks had a market impact. Read more from this Market Commentary for the week of July 26, 2010 (PDF, new window).
Weekly Market Commentary
7/24/10Earnings helped push stocks higher early last week, but equities lter lost ground as they struggled against technical trends and economic reports, culminating in a huge drop on Friday, July 16. In 90 years, there has only been one period (in the early 1990s) when the economy double-dipped into a recession. Read more from this market commentary for the week of July 19, 2010. (PDF, new window)
Allen Financial's Sherree L. Craig Earns Fellowship Standing in the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists
7/16/10
Sherree L. Craig, CEBS, Insured Benefits Manager at Allen Insurance and Financial, has been awarded Fellowship standing in the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists for a two-year period.
Craig earned this distinction by successfully completing a national employee benefits continuing education exam developed by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
The International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists is an educational association dedicated to serving the professional development needs of those holding the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist designation. Craig earned her CEBS designation in 2004.
Craig is also a board member of the Maine Association of Health Underwriters and Rockland Rotary.
Quarterly Market Commentary -- Q2/2010
7/15/10Quarterly Market Commentary – Q2-2010
Presented by Allen Financial
Volatility returns to markets
The second quarter brought renewed volatility, as markets continued to trade on fears of a global slowdown and worries over the worsening European debt situation. Markets ended the quarter to the downside, with major U.S. indices trading sharply lower on the last two days of the quarter. European markets were hardest hit, and there were ripple effects across global markets.
Read more.
Two from Allen Financial Receive Rotary Honor
7/7/10Peter Van Alstine and Scott Fletcher of Allen Financial Group were recently named Paul Harris Fellows through their membership in the Camden Rotary Club.
The Paul Harris Fellow recognition was created in memory of Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary. It is the practice of many clubs to award Paul Harris Fellowship to select members in appreciation of his or her service to the club.
"Service to our local community -- and through Rotary, to the world community -- is important to us," said Gil Fifield, president of Allen Insurance and Financial and a long-time member of the Rockland Rotary. "We congratulate Peter and Scott and their families on this important honor."
Van Alstine, right, and Fletcher, left,
join a number of their Allen Insurance and Financial colleagues as Paul Harris Fellows. Allen, the employee-owned insurance and financial services company based in Camden, maintains a strong relationship with Knox County Rotary Clubs and can claim members in each of the area clubs: Camden, Rockland and West Bay. Twenty percent of the Allen Agency's 60 employees are Rotarians; members attend Rotary functions on company time.
Both Peter and Scott are financial advisors with Allen Financial Group. Scott is a Certified Financial Planner. Peter is a Certified Public Accountant.
Rotary International is an organization is 32,000 service clubs and 1.2 million members worldwide, bringing together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service and to build goodwill and peace in the world. Members meet weekly for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Meetings are social events as well as opportunities to organize work for their service goals.
Rotary was founded in Chicago in 1905 and is headquartered today in Evanston, Ill. Rotary's flagship program is the eradication of polio. Other programs focus on issues of hunger, poverty, and illiteracy.
Weekly Market Update: June 30, 2010
7/1/10Allen Insurance and Financial is pleased to provide weekly market commentaries for those interested in general market news and performance data. Click to read more. (PDF, new window)
Healthcare Reform: Interim Final Rules on a Patients' Bill of Rights
6/30/10The Departments of Treasury, Labor (DOL) and Health and Human Services (HHS) have issued interim final rules related to the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) regarding pre-existing condition exclusions, lifetime and annual limits, rescissions and other patient protections. Most of these provisions are effective for plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010.
Plan sponsors should become familiar with these requirements in order to determine whether the new rules apply to their plans and whether their plans must be amended accordingly.
This Allen Insurance|Financial Legislative Brief describes the provisions of PPACA regarding these rules, as well as the clarifications made by the interim final rule. Please this document for more information. (Word document opens in a new window)
Weekly Market Update: June 21, 2010
6/28/10Allen Insurance and Financial is pleased to provide weekly market commentaries for those interested in general market news and performance data. Click here to read more. (PDF, new window)
Health Insurance For Mariners Made Easy
6/15/10Allen Insurance and Financial's Gene McKeever submits a monthly column to WorkBoat magazine. This article is from the June 2010 issue.
We're all probably sick of hearing about health insurance. But what if I told you about a major medical health insurance program for vessel crews that is very affordable, portable, and has a $5 million lifetime limit? You think it sounds crazy? Well, it has been available for about a year now.
Latest Market Commentary
4/14/10New Health Care Tax Credit
4/7/10Allen Agency Welcomes Ben Williams
10/10/09CAMDEN - Ben Williams of Belfast has joined the Allen Agency as a personal lines insurance producer.
Gene McKeever a 'subject matter expert' for Maine Bureau of Insurance
9/23/09CAMDEN - For the ninth year, the Allen Agency's Gene McKeever, of the company's Camden office, has served as an official "subject matter expert" (SME) of questions for the property casualty producer license exams given by the Maine Bureau of Insurance.
Allen Agency Welcomes Cokie Nickerson
9/20/09CAMDEN - Colleen Nickerson of Thomaston has joined the Allen Agency as a commercial lines processor, serving the insurance needs of local businesses.
Don't Miss Tonite Spaghetti Supper to benefit CHRHS Football
9/1/09ROCKPORT - The Camden Hills Regional High School Football Boosters will be hosting a spaghetti supper on Friday, September 11, 2009 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.
Scott Fletcher Joins Allen Financial Group
8/17/09CAMDEN - Scott Fletcher of Rockport has joined Allen Financial Group, the financial consulting and employee benefits company in Camden.
Barbara Hatch Joins the Allen Agency
6/18/09CAMDEN - Barbara Hatch of Cushing has joined the Allen Agency as a commercial lines customer service agent in the company's Camden office.
Yardsale To Benefit Relay For Life
6/5/09CAMDEN - The Allen Agency/Allen Financial Group of Camden will be hosting a yard sale on Saturday June 6th at their office on 34 Elm Street in Camden. All proceeds will go towards their fund raising efforts for the American Cancer Society Midcoast Relay For Life Event to be held later this month.
