STERLING SEACREST PRITCHARD, INC.
ATLANTA, GA

As one of the fastest growing risk management and insurance firms in Atlanta and the Southeast, Sterling Risk Advisors works in partnership with our clients to provide services and solutions customized to today’s dynamic marketplace. Expertise, Integrity and Client Service form the cornerstones of our success. Our firm is strengthened through private ownership, whereby our broker owners have a vested interest in assuring value added services to each and every client. Sterling Risk Advisors' common vision of teamwork and dedication to a climate of high integrity governs each client relationship, allowing us to earn the honor of your “insurance brokerage of choice”. What sets us apart from other firms? – Sterling Risk Advisors has achieved success by providing excellence in service, advocacy and value to our clients. Whether serving the construction industry, healthcare, professional practices, manufacturers, distributors, education, not-for profit entities or other commercial and personal clients, we are committed to the client’s interests. We proudly share references from our current clients. – Our firm maintains an extensive relationship network of industry focused attorneys, accountants, consultants, bankers, loss control and risk management resources to assure clients receive the most knowledgeable and up to date advice when needed. – Sterling Risk Advisors is owned by its brokers ensuring an alignment of interests among our clients. We take a long-term perspective, and don’t answer to a bank-owned holding company, to Wall Street, or other remote owners – only to our clients. – Sterling Risk Advisors continues to be a workplace of choice. We have consistently outpaced the industry averages in terms of revenue growth, profitability, productivity and client retention. On a recent morning, a staffer in the accounting department of a mid-sized company got an email from his CFO, requesting that $100,000 be transferred to a specific bank account. The email appeared to be genuine, so the money was transferred. By the time the mistake was recognized the next day, the money was already gone. Looking back at the deceptive email, the company noticed the CFO’s email address was different by only one letter. It was clear that the criminal had been in the CFO’s email account for some time and had worked hard to make the email look real by tailoring the email to similar emails that had been sent in the past between the two executives. These kinds of “deception fraud” incidents aren’t highlighted in the media as much as the higher profile data breaches. But they are happening more and more and can be just as harmful to your business. To combat this, companies are racing to ensure their procedures and policies are up-to-date and effective. But no matter how much technology a company has, no matter how updated their software, experts say employees are often the weakest link in the data security chain. “While businesses have done an excellent job in the last decade of improving the process and technology aspects of IT security, they’ve fallen short in training their own employees to defend and protect their company information,” says David Barton, principal with UHY Advisors in Atlanta and an expert on information security. Another offers a “social engineering fraud” endorsement, which provides coverage should an employee divert a payment based on fraudulent information provided in a written or verbal communication. That could be an email, letter a fax or a phone call. There are specific conditions and limitations relating to the losses. While the availability of coverages to address this issue continues to emerge within the marketplace, companies should provide training to their employees to prevent these crimes. “Businesses should review and reinforce their internal controls surrounding cash disbursements and wire transfers,” says Chris Arnone, Audit Partner with Moore Colson. “Specifically, we are recommending that authorization for significant or unusual disbursements and wire transfers require more than just an email approval.” Review your fraud processes to ensure there are multiple layers of protection, such as a voice confirmation via phone prior to any funds transfers Monitor employee use of personal devices (smartphones, tablets, personal computers) used to access company data or networks Sterling Risk Advisors' Doug Rieder was in the Atlanta Business Chronicle last week on questions surrounding the Atlanta Braves concrete contract.  Doug provides possible reasons as to why the Braves chose a GC to self-perform the concrete contract. Doug Rieder Talks About 5 Great iPad Apps to Increase Productivity and Lower Risk Exposure Sterling Risk Advisors’ President Doug Rieder talks about five tablet apps that construction companies can use to ease the workload, increase productivity and lower the company’s risk exposure.  A full-service surety and insurance brokerage firm with offices in Atlanta & Columbus, GA A full-service surety and insurance brokerage firm, Sterling Risk Advisors is dedicated to becoming a trusted strategic advisor offering a personalized touch to the commercial, professional and personal clients we serve. We go above and beyond – providing creative risk management consulting, innovative solutions, and solid advice to minimize exposures, minimize premiums and maximize success. An in-depth understanding of the industries, professions and personal needs of clients, over 60 years of combined expertise, well respected relationships with top-of-the-line worldwide insurance carriers and a focus on excellence in customer service assure comprehensive value added services. A full-service surety and insurance brokerage firm, Sterling Risk Advisors is dedicated to becoming a trusted strategic advisor offering a personalized touch to the commercial, professional and personal clients we serve. We provide creative risk management consulting, innovative solutions, and solid advice to minimize exposures, minimize premiums and maximize success. An in-depth understanding of the industries, professions and personal needs of clients, over 60 years of combined expertise, well respected relationships with top-of-the-line worldwide insurance carriers and a focus on excellence in customer service assure comprehensive value added services.