Well done.

Thanks for helping us reach 100, let’s shoot for 100 more.

1. When did you start working for the firm?
   I started with Moreton in December 1975.
2. What was the company like when you started?
   The company was very small—about 21 employees. There weren’t any Account Managers (CSRs). The sales people completed all their own applications by hand and then two of us that typed everything from the handwritten forms. The two of us also answered the telephones.
3. In what ways has the company changed since you started?
   The positions are more specialized now. Technology has obviously changed the way we do business. In 1975, we did not have a computer system so we typed all the invoices (in triplicate) and sent copies to an outside company to enter into a computer system from which we got our month-end reports and key-punch cards for each invoice processed during the month. When a payment check was received from the client, the key-punch card for that invoice was pulled out of the open accounts receivable box and put in the closed A/R box to be processed at the end of the month as being paid. After I had been at Moreton for about a year, we purchased an IBM Selectric typewriter for the person that did the dictation for all of the sales people. Everyone else still had electric typewriters with the movable carriage rather than the Selectric typing ball.
4. What have been some of the highlights of your career here?
   Since the agency has grown, we have moved into new office spaces several times in 1975. When I first started we occupied half of a small building on South Temple. We then expanded in that same building to occupy the full building. Next, we moved next door into a larger two-story building. We then moved some of the employees back into the small one-story building next door. The most exciting project that I was directly involved in was moving all of our employees to a much larger building a block east on South Temple. I got to be involved in designing and decorating the interior on the new office space and coordinated the actual move into the new building.
5. What’s been one of the best things about working at Moreton?
   I have made some great friends at Moreton. The Moreton family is very loyal to their employees, and as a result I have always wanted to do my best at whatever I was asked to do.
6. What positions have you held at Moreton?
   I started as a clerk-typist/receptionist. I then became one of the first CSRs working directly with a sales executive and began really learning about insurance. I was then promoted to be the Operations Supervisor for the Public Entity Dept. In the early ‘80s, I was made the first Office Manager, which included all HR functions as well as ordering all supplies. I also was involved in some accounting functions. As the company grew, my job functions were split between several people, and I moved into Accounting/IT, where I am now the Corporate Secretary.
7. What is the most enjoyable part of your job?
   I like the challenge of writing reports that are requested by various employees. I like figures and detail work and making sure that data is accurate.
8. What is something most people wouldn’t know about you?
   I major in music at college; however, I decided that teaching music for a living took all the fun out of music. Since music is actually very mathematical, I think my music talents have helped me in the accounting work I do. Also, my father was a mortician. I grew up living in an apartment above the mortuary. My first job was cleaning up and vacuuming after a funeral and also answering the telephone at the mortuary if my dad had to run an errand. This is where I got my first experience as a receptionist and taking accurate messages.

1. There have been 18 U.S. presidents since 1910. How many can you name?
2. How many states have been added to the U.S. since Moreton & Company was founded?
3. Which of these is the only event to occur prior to Moreton & Company’s creation in 1910?
   • Walt Disney animates his first Mickey Mouse short cartoon.
   • Babe Ruth hits his famous “called shot” home run at Wrigley Field.
   • World War I breaks out in Europe.
   • Henry Ford produces his first Model T automobile.
4. In 1910, the earth passed through the tail of this famous comet, prompting terrifying reports that “the cyanogen gas would impregnate the atmosphere and possibly snuff out all life on the planet.”
5. What homophonous salt company was also incorporated in 1910?
6. How many wars has the U.S. participated in since 1910?
7. What was the population of the United States in 1910?
   • 76 million
   • 92 million
   • 106 million
   • 123 million
8. Which famous badge-earning youth organization got its start in 1910?
9. How much would a bottle of Coca-Cola cost you in 1910?
   • A penny
   • A nickel
   • A dime
   • A quarter
10. Name this famous Utah landmark, which became a national monument in 1910.
    

Curious about the answers? Check the comments section.

1. When did you start working for the firm?
   I started with Moreton in May of 1986. I wish that I had kept a diary of my 34 years at Moreton. I think it could have been a funny human interest story.
2. What was the company like when you started?
   In contrast to today, the firm was small and very low-tech. It’s hard for the younger employees to imagine it, but there was no voicemail, no cell phones, and no email—the producers didn’t even have computers at their desks. When we purchased our first fax machine at Moreton, I remember I thought the business would be revolutionized.
3. In what ways has the company changed since you started?
   Other than the obvious technological changes and increase in number of employees, I would say the firm has changed most in the dramatic increase in developing expertise and service capabilities to more appropriately serve clients in virtually all areas of the business.
4. What have been some of the highlights of your career here?
   Among the highlights of my career are working with the State of Utah for over 20 years, working with Intermountain Health Care for 24 years, working with Questar for 20 years, Myriad Genetics since the day it was formed, and numerous Long Term Care and Rehabilitation Hospital clients. Participating in the 2002 Winter Olympics was also an unforgettable experience.
5. What’s been one of the best things about working at Moreton?
   The best thing about working at Moreton relates to the people who work here. I hear stories about firms with toxic work environments, and then I count my blessings. I really like all the people at Moreton.
6. Tell us about one of your most memorable experiences with a client.
   I was a new producer at Moreton. The year was 1986. Craig Smith had given me an assignment as part of my new business prospecting to create in my own words what he referred to as a “Why Fred A. Moreton & Company?” presentation. I went to work on this project with energy and excitement. I wrote it—then re-wrote it 10 or 12 times—memorized it, and practiced it in front of the mirror at home at night until everything about it was, well, “perfect.” Now it was time to take my magnificent piece of work out on the road—first to a large publicly held power cogeneration company. The president of the company was a neighbor of mine, and I felt very secure about my chances. For several days before the appointed time, I reviewed everything I could find about the company and practiced my presentation until I could have done it in my sleep. When the time arrived, I grabbed my visual aids, took a look at my watch, and launched into my inaugural presentation. About five minutes in, I heard an odd “snort” from the other side of the desk—Mr. Pratt had not only fallen soundly asleep, but he was beginning to snore. I looked over at Craig, and Craig just shrugged his shoulders. When I got back to the office, Idecided to toss my entire presentation and go in a different direction.
7. What positions have you held at Moreton? What is your current position?
   Current position: Senior Vice President
8. What is the most enjoyable part of your job?
   The most enjoyable part of my job is solving clients’ problems, teaching clients, creating a better program or solution to a risk management issue.
9. What is something most people wouldn’t know about you?
   During the summer when I was between 8 and 11, my Mom used to drop me off at the Hidden Valley Country Club in Reno, Nevada, where I would spend the day playing tennis. There were a lot of entertainers who would come to perform at night in the casinos, and during the day many of them would come to the country club to sit in the sun, golf, or play tennis. Often they would not have tennis partners, so I ended up playing tennis with a number of these entertainers, including Pat Boone, Perry Como, and many others. It was strange because they would often do their voice exercises while they were playing—it was very distracting. I played Nancy Sinatra once when I was 10 years old—she said I was hot.

The new legislation extends the eligibility window to those involuntarily terminated through February 28, 2010, and extends the period of the subsidy from nine to fifteen months.

Previously, employees electing COBRA had to pay up to 102% of the premium cost. But effective March 1, 2009, ARRA provided a subsidy to involuntarily terminated employees equal to 65% of the premiums for up to nine months. This new legislation extends the nine-month period of the subsidy to fifteen months. In addition, this new legislation provides a retroactive period of 60 days (commences upon enactment) for payment of premiums for eligible individuals whose subsidy period expired on November 30, 2009.

Additional analysis is available to Moreton & Company clients on our website. For more information, contact your broker directly or call our main office at 801.531.1234.

As part of our celebration, throughout the year we’ll be posting a number of stories about Moreton—our founding, history, employees, and capabilities. Here’s a bit of Moreton-related trivia to start things off.

• We were founded in 1910 by J.B. Moreton.
• When we were founded, we had a four-digit phone number: Wasatch 4472.
• Our offices were located in downtown Salt Lake: 206–207 Boston Building, considered one of Utah’s first sky scrapers.
• We got our start as a bonding agent for Wasatch Front contractors and quickly expanded to offer fire, automobile, plate glass, parcel post, life, accident & health, fidelity & surety bonds, burglary insurance, liability, workmen’s compensation, steam boiler, and elevator insurance.
• Some of our clients have been with us for more than 60 years.

The provisions appearing in both bills are most likely to be included in the final bill after reconciliation, as highlighted in the discussion below. Some aspects of health reform remain “to be determined”— a new federal agency is to be established. The new agency will set standards for the minimum benefit plan an employer must offer, among other issues. The rules set by that agency will affect and alter current employer health plans and their taxation. Employers who do not currently offer plans will be the most affected by reform overall, but all employers will face changes. For example, the agency’s actions may disallow current plan designs in the future, including health savings accounts (HSAs), even though Congressional proposals do not make these programs “illegal.”

Additional analysis is available to Moreton & Company clients on our website. For more information, contact your broker directly or call our main office at 801.531.1234.

Insurance to value is important because it allows homeowners to have adequate premiums and have adequate reserves to pay claims.  Consider if your home is insured to value and give us a call today.