Newsletters
We received many excellent program proposals for this year’s AIA Trust Component Grant Program making recipient selection rather difficult! These annual awards are made possible by Victor and CNA, providers of the AIA Trust Professional Liability, Business Owners, and Cyber Liability Insurance programs and this is the 18th year in which five components were…
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Introduction The architecture and design industry is at a critical juncture. Climate change poses escalating risks to the built environment and the people who occupy it, prompting the need for immediate, proactive, industry-wide action.
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The AIA Trust together with the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) and the National Society for Professional Engineers (NSPE) work annually to conduct an insurance carrier review and interview of professional liability trends and risk management issues. The following are some highlights for 2023 as well as complimentary useful resources made available to you by the AIA Trust.
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Nearly everyone agrees that artificial intelligence, or AI, could potentially change the world. But there’s still a good deal of uncertainty around how, why, and when this might happen. That uncertainty stretches into architecture, where many firms are grappling with AI’s capabilities and the accompanying risks.
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On most design-build projects, architects provide their services through a design-build entity—rarely do they lead the process. The design-build method changes the role of the architecture firm, modifies its duty of loyalty, and challenges the firm’s responsibility for the adequacy of the design. In the hundreds of design-builder/architect contracts reviewed by Victor Insurance Managers for…
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When you determine how much income you’ll need in retirement, you may base your projection on the type of lifestyle you plan to have and when you want to retire. However, as you grow closer to retirement, you may discover that your income won’t be enough to meet your needs. If you find yourself in…
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Your smile is the first thing that someone sees! The right dental insurance keeps your mouth healthy and saves1 on care, whether now or down the road. And your mouth health can impact your overall health, including your heart and respiratory system.2
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Architecture firms should take the time to establish meaningful fee collection practices so that they can remain financially solvent. Avoiding fee disputes with clients helps maintain positive working relationships while safeguarding the ability to provide services on future projects, including those of existing clients. Timely collection of fees is essential since architecture firms do not…
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You might be surprised how The AIA Trust life insurance coverage from New York Life Insurance Company can provide for you and your family.
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For architects, establishing a retirement plan for yourself and possibly for your firm, as well, is one of the most important actions you can take. If you have already done so, you are on the road to building a more secure retirement for yourself and your employees.
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Welcome to the “new normal” – a seemingly alternate universe where working in an office has become burdensome and employers and employees alike are often at odds as to what a work-life balance looks like. As if the practice of architecture wasn’t complicated enough, our post-pandemic reality challenges firms to adjust to a remote workforce…
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Passionate in his pursuit of continuous engagement and advocacy for design and the profession, Jeff Yrazabal, AIA is leading the AIA Trust into 2024 as Chair. AIA has proven to be a steadfast way to harness this passion with other roles through the years which include past Co-Chair of AIA Portland COTE, President of AIA…
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Conventional wisdom dictates that all successful construction projects have a great team. The project team is typically viewed as being the Client, Architect, and Contractor. However, other seldom discussed yet equally vital members of the team, are the Owner’s financial partners, which includes Lenders and Investors, along with their Construction Consultants.
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In 2005, my grandmother passed away at the age of 99. Looking at how artificial intelligence (AI) impacts society, I cannot help but reflect on the significant changes I have seen in a lifetime compared to what my grandmother must have lived through.
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By: Steven Greenapple, SES ESOP Strategies, a Stevens & Lee Company When contemplating a sale of their business, the owners of a Company have several alternatives to consider. They can (1) sell to a financial investor (private equity or family office); (2) sell to a strategic investor (another business who wants to expand into the…
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During AIA Trust Week, one of the webinars shone a spotlight on LegaLine, a legal information hotline specially tailored to respond to the needs of small firms and sole proprietors managing an architectural practice.
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You want to retire comfortably when the time comes. You also want to help your child go to college. So how do you juggle the two? The truth is, saving for your retirement and your child’s education at the same time can be a challenge. But take heart–you may be able to reach both goals…
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For small-business owners, the importance of employee benefits is a significant factor when it comes to attracting and retaining talent. The majority of workers prefer attractive types of employee benefits—like insurance, paid time off, and a retirement plan—more than pay raises. Whether you’re competing for talent or keeping the high performers you already have, small-business…
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If you believe that ESG and sustainable design are synonymous, you’re not alone. Diving deeper into their intricate nuances, we discover that ESG and sustainable design, while intertwined in essence, stem from different branches of our modern vocabulary. The confusion is indeed a matter of nomenclature and context.
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Introduction In recent years, the design industry has experienced a significant disparity in experience levels among the workforce in the field of construction contract administration (CCA) services. With a visible gap between junior staff (1-5 years of experience) and senior staff (10+ years of experience), many firms are finding themselves in a conundrum, compelling less-experienced…
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