Free CE Update: 1/25/25

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Check the FIA Surety School Bulletin Board…

A corkboard displaying various colorful announcements and notes at FIA Surety Free CE School. Featured items include a welcome sign, information about a faculty meeting, details on an upcoming webinar for financial statement analysis, a notification about a postponed meeting, and a notice for free strips of paper.

For more info, and if you have not registered, click here.

FIA Surety / First Indemnity of America Ins. Co., a Palomar Company
2740 Rt. 10 West, Suite 205
Morris Plains, NJ 07950
856-304-7348

An A rated Carrier Providing Contract, Site and Subdivision Bonds up to $10,000,000!

RETAINAGE BONDS!

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“Retainage” locks up construction profits…

A stack of money secured with a locked chain, surrounded by flying dollar bills and a burst of energy in the background.

Retainage is a contract provision that delays the contractors receipt of EARNED PROFITS.

An FIA Retainage Bond is the key to releasing these funds!

Contact us to learn more.
FIA is a bonding carrier that has been serving the needs of contractors for more than 45 years.

FIA Surety / First Indemnity of America Ins. Co., a Palomar Company
2740 Rt. 10 West, Suite 205
Morris Plains, NJ 07950
856-304-7348

A Carrier Providing Contract, Site and Subdivision Bonds up to $10,000,000!

Today’s Tidbit: 1/12/26

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A turquoise plate filled with flaky pastry cups topped with red jelly and fresh green herbs.

Clients with a 12/31 year end should provide a draft FS for review with 2026 bonding in mind.

FIA Surety / First Indemnity of America Ins. Co., a Palomar Company
2740 Rt. 10 West, Suite 205Morris Plains, NJ 07950
856-304-7348
A Carrier Providing Contract, Site and Subdivision Bonds up to $10,000,000!

2026 Budget Resolution

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No WASTED MONEY on boring CE classes!

A cheerful cartoon character in a tuxedo giving a thumbs up, featuring the text 'No CE Fees!' and 'FIA Surety 2026' with colorful confetti and fireworks in the background.

FIA Surety is providing a pair of exciting, free zoom webinars:
“Understanding Financial Statements” on 1/6/26 and
“Advanced Financial Statement Analysis” on 2/2/26

After these free Zoom classes you’ll never be intimidated by a financial statement again! Join us: 3 free CE credits, no exam. Attend from home or office. You may actually enjoy it!
More info and to register, click or paste into a new browser: 
https://fiasurety.blog/2020/08/16/free-ce/

FIA Surety / First Indemnity of America Ins. Co., a Palomar Company
2740 Rt. 10 West, Suite 205Morris Plains, NJ 07950
856-304-7348
A Carrier Providing Contract, Site and Subdivision Bonds up to $10,000,000!

The FIA Surety Free CE Program is Growing!

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A winter scene depicting four people walking towards a brick building labeled 'FIA Surety School', with an American flag flying overhead.

We just added another state to our accredited Free CE program:

  • AL
  • AZ
  • CA
  • DE
  • FL
  • GA
  • MD
  • MA
  • NJ
  • NY
  • NC
  • OH
  • PA
  • SC
  • TN
  • TX
  • VA
  • WV and now including…
  • Oregon!

Are financial statements intimidating? We call our next two webinars the “Dynamic Duo.” They cover the basics of reading financial statements (January) and then a deeper plunge into the subject (February).
Think how much you could learn in six hours of instruction!

Get more info and register once for all future webinars. 3 credits per month and no exams. Nothing to buy or download. Attend from home or office.
Oregon agents, sign up now! Click or paste into a new browser:https://fiasurety.blog/2020/08/16/free-ce/

FIA Surety, a Palomar Company – Bonds up to $10,000,000 Specializing in Contract, Site, and Subdivision Bonds for more than 45 years. We’re the EXPERTS!

Logo of FIA Surety, a Palomar Company, featuring the text 'FIA' in large letters, 'SURETY' below it, and 'A PALOMAR COMPANY' in smaller letters.

http://www.fiasurety.com
856-304-7348

SURETY Challenge!!

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Put on your thinking cap and take a shot at this latest FIA Surety Challenge – based on a real life case.

A family of four children and two adults stands on a dock, watching a large ocean liner as it approaches the harbor, with clouds in the sky and gentle waves in the water.

Details:

  • In January a standard Performance and Payment bond was issued for the general contractor. The GC hired a subcontractor and the sub bought materials from a supplier.
  • The last materials were provided by the supplier in July.
  • The sub encountered a serious financial disruption, resulting in money owed to the supplier. They told the suppplier what was going on, “we hope to pay you shortly.” Time passed…
  • The state in question has a 120 day lien law (the time allowed to file a lien after the last completed work or supplied materials.)
  • In July, the supplier filed a Preliminary Notice to File Lien – a normal precautionary step performed by all suppliers.
  • In December, the supplier ran out of patience and filed an actual lien and made a payment bond claim.

FIA Surety Challenge question: If you were the claims rep, how would you respond to this claim, and why? Should it be paid? Click for “think music.”

A large ocean liner with a red funnel emitting smoke is sailing through calm waters under a golden sky.

OK, your answer please?

This one is a little complicated. The preliminary notice is not an actual lien. A lien was eventually filed, but it was late, needed to be filed no later than November. When filed, such a lien has no legal effect.

With the lien period expired, and no valid lien on file, the claimant has missed an element required to make an enforceable bond claim.

Unfortunately for this claimant, they waited too long to act and missed their window of opportunity. There is a legal basis for declination of the claim.

FIA Surety / First Indemnity of America Ins. Co., a Palomar Company
2740 Rt. 10 West, Suite 205
Morris Plains, NJ 07950
Office: 973-541-3417
A Carrier Providing Contract, Site and Subdivision Bonds up to $10,000,000!

SURETY: Today’s Tidbit 12/8/25

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A group of five people excitedly admiring a tray of assorted holiday cookies held by a woman in a red shirt with 'FIA Surety' printed on it, in a cozy room decorated for Christmas.

A capped bid bond (maximum dollar amount) can be last minute increased with an email attachment of the front page, if signatures are on the second page.


FIA Surety / First Indemnity of America Ins. Co., a Palomar Company
2740 Rt. 10 West, Suite 205
Morris Plains, NJ 07950
Office: 973-541-3417
A Carrier Providing Contract, Site and Subdivision Bonds up to $10,000,000!

HR Superhero!

Steve GoliaLeave a comment
A group of four people, including a woman in a superhero cape, gather around a laptop, displaying excitement and laughter.

“Our 2026 budget for CE expenses: $ Zero!!“

No more wasted dollars on boring CE classes. The FIA Surety Free CE School offers fun, interesting Zoom webinars you can attend from home or office. No exams. 3 free CE credits per month. Free gifts. Learn / Earn!

FIA Surety has delivered thousands of Free CE credits, and our program is only getting better – adding new states, updating our course selection. No more “HO-1” classes for your people!

Check out our upcoming schedule. Click here, or paste this into a new browser: https://fiasurety.blog/2020/08/16/free-ce/

Register once for access to all future monthly webinars. Nothing to buy or download. 2026 is gonna be great! Follow the link for more info.

This program is provided by your best Surety Carrier:
FIA Surety, a Palomar Company – Bonds up to $10,000,000
Specializing in Contract, Site, and Subdivision Bonds for more than 45 years. We’re the EXPERTS!

http://www.fiasurety.com
856-304-7348

Free CE: Last Call for 12/1/25

Steve GoliaLeave a comment
A turkey in a suit carrying a briefcase walks past a school building with the sign 'FIA Surety School', accompanied by three small chicks and surrounded by autumn leaves and pumpkins.

Our next FIA Surety Free CE Zoom webinar is coming up on Monday, 12/1/25, 1:00-4:00pm eastern. We’re presenting “Advanced Surety Bonding Solutions,” worth 3 free CE credits. This is great stuff! Even if you are a bond pro, you may still have a few AHA! moments with this webinar.

Click for more info and our “once and done” registration form or paste this address into a browser: https://fiasurety.blog/2020/08/16/free-ce/

(We’ll be announcing our newest additional state soon!)

FIA Surety / First Indemnity of America Ins. Co., a Palomar Company
2740 Rt. 10 West, Suite 205
Morris Plains, NJ 07950
Office: 973-541-3417

A Carrier Providing Contract, Site and Subdivision Bonds up to $10,000,000!

No More CE Fees!!!

Steve GoliaLeave a comment
An illustration of an authoritative woman with glasses, raising her finger in a warning gesture. Text on the image reads 'JUST SAY NO TO CE FEES FIA SURETY FREE CE SCHOOL'.

Here is your best surety carrier solving the CE problem: the FIA Surety Free CE School – interesting, convenient, free Zoom webinars you can attend from home or office. What’s not to love?!

Our next monthly webinar is on Monday, 12/1/25 “Advanced Surety Bonding Solutions” 1:00-4:00 pm eastern. This is a game changer for surety producers. Solving problems for your clients is how you win new business. We’re here to help!

Register once and you are entitled to attend all our future monthly webinars. Fun, free gifts, great info and delicious snacks you provide. You’ll love it. Plus 3 free CE credits with no exam. You in?

Click for info and to register or copy and paste this address: https://fiasurety.blog/2020/08/16/free-ce/

FIA Surety / First Indemnity of America Ins. Co., a Palomar Company
2740 Rt. 10 West, Suite 205
Morris Plains, NJ 07950
Office: 973-402-1200
A Carrier Providing Contract, Site and Subdivision Bonds up to $10,000,000!