Introducing RISQ Consulting’s new blog, The Vantage Point! Get ready to learn about more than “just insurance”. We have experts on our team that know so much more than premiums and paperwork! At RISQ Consulting, we are proud to say we focus on educating ourselves in many areas of the business world, not just insurance. This quest for knowledge has inspired many of our team members to dive deeply into fascinating areas such as business technology, organizational management, team psychology, employee engagement and more! The Vantage Point is our way of sharing simple tips and valuable insights with you. Please enjoy!
LATEST BLOG POSTS
Read more +07 April 2021 in BlogHello Alaska, Let’s Plan a Summer Staycation!
By Aimee Johnson, Account Executive I’ve travelled to many international locations and dream on exploring more (once able). I do have to admit that I am a little embarrassed on how few places and adventures I have taken in my home state of Alaska. After 30+ years (that’s all you will get from me in
Read more +05 April 2021 in BlogKeeping Indoor Plants Alive
By Angela Baker, Account Specialist One of my favorite things to do is to go plant shopping. I always end up bringing a few new beauties home and I need to know how to care for them properly because plants are not cheap. Keeping plants alive is not as hard as you think it is.
Read more +25 March 2021 in BlogHaving a Work Smarter, Not Harder Mindset
By Tiffany Stock, Vice President, Marketing & Client Relations Many years ago, in the throes of a project that I no longer remember, one of my colleagues said something that has stuck with me – work smarter, not harder. I had never heard that phrase before that I could recall, or at least not at
Read more +23 March 2021 in BlogWorker, Interrupted: The Cost of Task Switching
By Andrew Kupperman, RISQ Consulting Employer Services and Workforce Technology Consultant, SHRM-CP Do you ever feel like you spend an entire day doing a million different things at work, but by the end of the day, you feel like you’ve accomplished nothing? Even the best planned out workdays can easily get side tracked by the
Read more +18 March 2021 in BlogYou Had a Great Idea, Now What?
By Casey Kirkeby, Strategy Consultant We are in 2021 and now more than ever, it seems like everyone is selling something and trying to create a value proposition. We have all had an idea or thought, “could that actually create value and make a difference in the world?” Just the other day I thought about
Read more +16 March 2021 in Blog122 Emails a Day
By Ashley Snodgrass, Executive Account Manager I spend a lot of time in my email inbox. Reading, replying, forwarding, sorting, unsubscribing. Repeating. Over, and over, and over again. A weird measure of time I keep is how many messages have sent. If you work in Outlook for Desktop, you can head on over to your
Read more +10 March 2021 in BlogWarmup and Stretching – Improve Flexibility, Performance and Avoid Injuries
By Tonya Mott, Director of Continuous Improvement Well, it’s been a few weeks since I wrote about my success in finally getting my butt to the gym. I Made a Habit of Going to the Gym I’m proud to say that I’m still going and don’t see an end in sight! The only concern I
Read more +02 March 2021 in BlogHow I Conquered Insomnia and Lost My Quarantine 15
By Shayla Dablemont, RISQ Consulting Individual and Family Benefits Consultant My husband and I got married in July in the middle of COVID-19. This created newlywed comfort along with the push to support our local restaurants. The result? Double the weight gain. I like to call it the quarantine 15, but it was more like
Read more +18 February 2021 in BlogI Made a Habit of Going to the Gym
By Tonya Mott, Director of Continuous Improvement Against all odds because it took me 20 years to make it happen, I have been going to the gym 6 days a week consistently since January 1, 2021. And, no, this was not a New Year’s resolution type deal, it just so happened to line up with
Read more +16 February 2021 in Blog3 Ways to be a Better Leader Today
By Tiffany Stock, Vice President, Marketing & Client Relations Our agency has really gone against the grain when talking about who is a leader within the organization. Preferring the definition of a leader as someone who can see how things can be improved and rallies people to move toward that better vision. At RISQ, everyone
Read more +10 February 2021 in BlogG2’s Best HR Products for 2021
By Andrew Kupperman, RISQ Consulting Employer Services and Workforce Technology Consultant, SHRM-CP G2 is one of the best review sites out there when it comes to Workforce Technology. They’ve recently shared their 2021 top 50 list for HR Products. RISQ Consulting has experience in using, as well as consulting for the systems at #1, #2,
Read more +04 February 2021 in BlogExplosion of the Athleisure World
By Dena Lythgoe, Senior Account Executive & Partner I don’t know about you, but I have worn more active gear without actually being more active since March 2020. COVID being the main cause for virtual meetings has helped create a new style definition, ‘below the shoulder’ attire. We have all seen the horrible faux paus
Read more +28 January 2021 in BlogHave You Changed HOW You Work Over the Years?
By Joshua Weinstein, Employee Benefits President I’m no longer a member of the youngest and hippest generation. My daughters keep me apprised of the trending memes, hand gestures, and terms, but at heart, I know I’ve crossed into deep mid-life. With that ascension comes maturity and growth, right? While I still break into fits of
Read more +26 January 2021 in BlogWinter Vegetable Options Got You Feeling Down?
By Tiffany Stock, Vice President, Marketing & Client Relations Normally I try to share articles that are deep, insightful and nonetheless thought provoking, but sometimes we all need a little break from the norm as long as it provides some inspiration! Based on the most recent data from the CDC, in Alaska, only 19% of
Read more +19 January 2021 in BlogReady. Set. Shop! Earn 10% Cash Back at 1,000+ Stores.
By Joshua Weinstein, Employee Benefits President I’m a minimalist by nature. I believe everything you own is a relationship you’re in that requires maintenance. That said, many things spark joy and should be kept around, even if they require TLC. When new “things” are needed, I try to maximize my purchasing power. Heck, we so
Read more +13 January 2021 in BlogVolunteer Time Off: The Benefit That Gives Back
By Alison Nelson, Sales and Marketing Coordinator We’ve all heard of paid time off, but what about volunteer time off? Volunteer time off (VTO) is an increasingly popular employee benefit that businesses are offering as a way to demonstrate how seriously they take social responsibility. Offering VTO is also a way to recruit and retain
Read more +04 January 2021 in BlogWorkers’ Compensation Trends to Watch in 2021
By Dena Lythgoe, Senior Account Executive & Partner I can hardly believe it but 2020 has finally come to a very long awaited and welcomed close. With the new year upon us professionals of all industries are offering predictions, trends and opportunities for 2021 and the insurance industry is no different. All business owners
Read more +16 December 2020 in BlogEssentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
By Tonya Mott, Vice President of Operations My colleague recently turned me onto the book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown: https://gregmckeown.com/book/ I was hooked after reading these two questions: Is your time being hijacked by other people’s agendas? Are you busy but not productive? YES, the answer is, YES!! After I
Read more +08 December 2020 in BlogVirtual Workplace Holiday Parties
By Dena Lythgoe, Senior Account Executive & Partner All of us throughout the world have experience vast changes in 2020. The world is not yet back to the ‘normal’ we have grown knowing and now with the holiday season upon us we seem to be searching for ways to remain close to our loved ones
Read more +18 November 2020 in BlogCruise Season Cancelation
By Dena Lythgoe, Senior Account Executive & Partner Alaska offers majestic mountains, abundant wildlife, and outdoor adventures which bring tourists from all over the world primarily by cruise ship. In 2019, two times the population of Alaska residents came to Alaska on a cruise ship. In 2020 all cruising was put to a screeching halt
Read more +17 November 2020 in BlogHow to Tell if Distance Learning Is Working for Your Kid
By Casey Kirkeby, Strategy Consultant 2020 is a crazy time to be alive. We’re dealing with a pandemic, politics, economic uncertainties, and so much more. This article hit home for me because I have a kid in school and, like many others, we are doing distance learning. My son is going to be 8 years
Read more +10 November 2020 in BlogA Layman’s Guide for When Sh!t Hits the Fan
By Jennifer Outcelt, Account Specialist I think we can all agree that this year has been comprised of many fans, and many propelled sh!ts. It sucks, and we are all struggling to wipe ourselves clean. Many of us are now struggling in a way that feels SO unfamiliar that it’s difficult to identify how we
Read more +03 November 2020 in BlogStress Is a Mess, it Plays to be Board
By Bailey Penrose, Employer Services Account Manager I’ve been fighting heartburn the last few days (weeks, months, etc.) Stress has been a constant, and inconsiderate, guest lately. Quite possibly most of us have had to reach liberally for the Tums, Rolaids, or stomach soother of choice this year. As we get ready to head indoors
Read more +21 October 2020 in BlogSocial Inflation, Low Interest Rates, Rising Catastrophes: Recipe for a Hard Market
By Dena Lythgoe, Senior Account Executive & Partner When you think of a perfect storm, many thoughts may come to mind. You may be reflecting on an emotional storm you’ve encountered, a trifecta of issues and problems all coming down at once. You also could be thinking of Mark Wahlberg as the hunky deckhand glistening
Read more +13 October 2020 in BlogOverheard on Zoom: Not a Horror Story
By Ashley Snodgrass, Executive Account Manager In the age of online meeting exhaustion, there are loads of horror stories about embarrassing things that happened over Zoom. Not long ago, I read a blog post of a person who accidentally saw a coworker’s husband naked on Zoom. Yikes. The second-hand, or even third-hand, embarrassment is unbearable.
Read more +22 September 2020 in BlogBlue Zones: Thank you Zac Efron for Educating Me on Longevity
By Aimee Johnson, Account Executive First, I have to admit that, yes, I have been watching Zac Efron’s new series on Netflix, “Down to Earth” and it has become a guilty pleasure! And no I am not of the generation that swooned over Zac and High School musical. I can honestly say I’ve never
Read more +15 September 2020 in BlogCampsite Recommendations in Alaska for 2021: Start Reserving Spots Now!
By Tonya Mott, Vice President of Operations I know you’re probably thinking it’s way too early to start thinking about booking campsites for the 2021 summer but I promise, you are wrong. Let this blog post be a warning that if you want to camp at the most beautiful campgrounds and get the prime spots
Read more +01 September 2020 in BlogLook Back to Get Ahead
By Bailey Penrose, Employer Services Account Manager I don’t know about you, but being encouraged to stay at home during these turbulent times has really upped my YouTube consumption. Quite possibly Google should start paying me a portion of ad-revenue based on the uptick. One thing I find myself binging are the videos released by
Read more +28 August 2020 in BlogWhy Say Lot Word, When Few Word Do Trick?
By Ashley Snodgrass, Executive Account Manager I’m the first to say I can be a little long winded. I’ve made many efforts over the last few years to try to be more succinct, but it is quite challenging. Because of this self-criticism, I am envious of others who are able to convey their message concisely.
Read more +11 August 2020 in BlogThe Power of Words – Surprisingly Our Least Powerful Tool for Communication
By Alesha Combs, Account Manager I began working from home in March of 2020. One of the first things I noticed during this transition was the shift from popping into a colleague’s office, or by their desk, to say good morning or ask a question, but instead increasing my utilization of emails, texts, phone calls,
Read more +29 July 2020 in BlogSurprise Billings
By Diana Stewart, Executive Account Manager Surprise billing happens when a patient with health insurance is treated at an out-of-network hospital or when an out-of-network doctor assists with the procedure at an in-network hospital. Bills for such services can range from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars. “Surprise” out-of-network bills have come under
Read more +14 July 2020 in BlogThe New Normal – Is it Here Yet?
By Andrew Kupperman, RISQ Consulting Employer Services and Workforce Technology Consultant, SHRM-CP I’ve written a few blog posts about change in the past, as I believe the ability to adapt to new challenges is one of the most important skills you can possess in life. But what happens when an event occurs that forces you
Read more +30 June 2020 in BlogEurope Was Cancelled, So I Bought a Unicycle
By Joshua Weinstein, President of the Employee Benefits & Employer Services Division My daughter was married in the fall of 2019, and my gift to the newlywed couple was a family trip to Europe in 2020. COVID-19 hit, so the trip is on pause. So, I decided to dip into the trip savings fund
Read more +23 June 2020 in BlogEmpower Kids to Reach Their Goals With Goally
By Alesha Combs, Account Manager How do you handle distracting colleagues? You know the ones I’m talking about. They ask you a million questions, half of which they already know the answers to, or could figure out on their own. They’re loud, even when you’re in the middle of a scheduled call or Zoom
Read more +16 June 2020 in BlogPlanning a Wedding During a Pandemic
By Shayla Dablemont, RISQ Consulting Individual and Family Benefits Consultant Planning a wedding is stressful enough by itself. Now let’s throw a pandemic into the mix! Most couples put a lot of thought into the specific day they choose to tie the knot. We wanted ours to be as close to our anniversary as possible
Read more +09 June 2020 in BlogCreating and Sustaining an Innovation Culture is Tough
By Tiffany Stock, Vice President of Marketing & Client Relations Here at RISQ, we strive to be thought-leaders and pride ourselves on being innovative, flexible and nimble. A big focus of our culture is on innovation and breaking down the silos on what we do and how we do it. This is one of the
Read more +03 June 2020 in BlogStripping Ain’t Easy
By Angela Baker, Account Specialist Refinishing a piece of furniture is a great way to save money while updating a piece you love. It’s really popular right now to paint classic pieces every color from black to white and everything in between. The popularity and ease of using chalk paint or milk paint makes it
Read more +28 May 2020 in BlogParallel Pandemics: COVID-19 & Tick-Borne Diseases
By Tonya Mott, Vice President of Operations The month of May is Lyme Disease Awareness month so I figured it’s the perfect time to advocate for my loved ones suffering from the disease and spread awareness. Last May I wrote a blog post describing my good friend’s battle with Lyme disease and shortly after
Read more +27 May 2020 in BlogRock With Me, Knoll With Me
By Jennifer Outcelt, Account Specialist It’s been about 6 months since the Coronavirus hit our radar. Since then, our work lives (awe, let’s face it, our WHOLE lives) have been turned upside down. Our time is now spent pivoting our goals, engineering endless workarounds, avoiding people (while desperately wanting to be near them), and frankly,
Read more +19 May 2020 in BlogWhen You Run Out of TV to Watch, Try This New Way of Reading
By Ashley Snodgrass, Executive Account Manager The single greatest improvement to libraries in the last few years, is the addition of digital libraries. Digital libraries allow you to check out eBooks and audiobooks online, which enables you to easily read and return books. If this sounds like a hassle, it is not. It is
Read more +12 May 2020 in BlogSo I Asked My Job, “Will you be my Valentine?”
By Andrew Kupperman, RISQ Consulting Employer Services and Workforce Technology Consultant, SHRM-CP I know we’re past Valentine’s Day, but have you ever heard someone say, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life”? If you have, I’m curious as to what your reaction was. Did you laugh in
Read more +12 May 2020 in BlogA Hallway with Locked Doors
By Bailey Penrose, Employer Services Account Manager I read a short article years ago about the concept of ‘liminal space’. ‘Liminal’ is translated from its Latin root as ‘threshold’, and in this concept refers to a beginning or ending marked by traveling through a physical space. When you pass through a door, enter an
Read more +05 May 2020 in BlogISO Laughter and Self-Care Tips during “Hunker Down” Order
By Tonya Mott, Vice President of Operations I don’t know about all of you but life got serious real quick. Looking back about a month ago I’ll never forget my coworker asking me, “Do you really think we’ll have to close the office”. I said, “No way, but we’re prepared if it comes to
Read more +29 April 2020 in BlogNew Tool for News Junkies
By Ashley Snodgrass, Executive Account Manager Are there still any news junkies out there? In light of recent events, I know plenty of folks who say they can’t read the anxiety-inducing news. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, I had friends and acquaintances who refused to read the news because of constant barrage of
Read more +21 April 2020 in BlogParents Are Not OK
By Aimee Johnson, RISQ Consulting Account Executive Working in employee benefits during a pandemic equates to clients needing more than ever. This is a great thing as it presents a tremendous opportunity to show our worth – and we are worth it (in my not so humble opinion). The problem here, is that my 11-month
Read more +16 April 2020 in BlogQuarantine With a Teen
By Jessica Carlson, RISQ Consulting Employee Benefits Consultant Since school has changed to distance learning, and I am working from home, I have been with my 14 year old for the last three weeks and will be for the foreseeable future. This will either tear us apart or bring us closer. I for one would
Read more +08 April 2020 in BlogLive Life at the End of the Leash
By Shayla Dablemont, RISQ Consulting Individual and Family Benefits Consultant “A dog is one of the remaining reasons why some people can be persuaded to go for a walk” – O.A. Battista Fido does more for you than just provide companionship. As if you really need more reasons to cuddle your furry friend, one of
Read more +31 March 2020 in Blog9 Ways to Stay Connected During Social Distancing
By Casey Kirkeby, RISQ Consulting Strategy Consultant Humans are social creatures and even the most introverted need some type of social interaction from time to time. For example, I am an extroverted person that loves to go to networking events with large groups of people and support the business that is showcasing it’s location. Any
Read more +10 March 2020 in BlogTuition Reimbursement- Helping Employees with Their Financial Goals
By Casey Kirkeby, RISQ Consulting Strategy Consultant When an employer hires their first employee, benefits are on their mind. There are so many employee benefits out there that it is quite overwhelming to talk about all of them in one blog. There is telecommuting (remote workers), Telemedicine, New Parent Leave, Lactation aid for new mothers,
Read more +02 March 2020 in BlogThe Most Popular Employee Benefits- Are You Offering Them?
By Alison Nelson, RISQ Consulting Sales and Marketing Coordinator The average initial cost to hire and train a new employee is $4,129 (SHRM). So how do you reduce turnover and retain your employees? Well, one way is to offer competitive employee benefits. A colleague recently sent me an interesting article that ranks the 15 most
Recent Posts
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Hello Alaska, Let’s Plan a Summer Staycation!
By Aimee Johnson, Account Executive I’ve travel... -
Keeping Indoor Plants Alive
By Angela Baker, Account Specialist One of my f... -
Having a Work Smarter, Not Harder Mindset
By Tiffany Stock, Vice President, Marketing &am... -
Worker, Interrupted: The Cost of Task Switching
By Andrew Kupperman, RISQ Consulting Employer S... -
You Had a Great Idea, Now What?
By Casey Kirkeby, Strategy Consultant We are in...
