by David Bell | Aug 20, 2026
In 1995, I became President of Strategic Outsourcing, Inc. (SOI), one of the early pioneers in the Professional Employer Organization—or PEO—industry.
Back then we called it employee leasing, which sounded a little like we rented employees by the weekend. Thankfully, the industry came up with a better name.
We also didn’t have Google, smartphones, or DocuSign. I’m still not sure how we got anything done.
What we did have was a pretty good idea: help small business owners lower costs, offer better employee benefits, manage workers’ compensation, and get some of the HR headaches off their desks.
SOI eventually grew to nearly 50,000 W-2 employees and more than $1 billion in annual revenue under the accounting methods used at the time. Along the way, I traveled all over the country talking with business owners about PEOs and learning what worked—and occasionally what didn’t.
The technology is better. I’ve still got good hair, but I’m not as pretty as I used to be.
Fortunately, experience counts for something.
And the questions business owners ask really haven’t changed:
Can I lower my costs? Can I offer better benefits? Can somebody else deal with the HR headaches? Can I get competitive workers’ compensation? And can I spend more time running my business instead of dealing with all this stuff?
Today, through SIA and Syndicated Insurance Resources, we have access to numerous PEOs, insurance markets, staffing programs, payroll solutions, workers’ compensation programs, and other strategies for small businesses.
And here’s something you don’t hear from every salesperson:
A PEO may not be your best option.
We’re not trying to squeeze your business into a particular program. We’ll look at what you’re doing now, what it’s costing you, and whether there’s a better way.
If we can save you money, reduce your administrative headaches, improve your benefits—or preferably all three—we should talk.
I’ve been doing this since 1995. At this point, I ought to know something about it. My team and I are ready to help.
by David Bell | Jan 6, 2026
It’s that time of year again—tax season. Between gathering documents for your accountant, sending information to the IRS, and digging up old paperwork, it sometimes feels like your Social Security number and personal information are appearing on every form imaginable.
And while all that information is necessary to get your taxes filed, it’s also a good reminder of just how important it is to protect sensitive personal data.
At SIA Insurance and The Syndicated Group, we often need similar information when helping clients obtain insurance coverage—things like dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and other personal details required by insurance carriers. Protecting that information isn’t just good practice… it’s a responsibility we take very seriously.
The problem is that regular email and text messages are not secure. Sending confidential information through standard email is a lot like sending a postcard through the mail—anyone along the route could potentially see what’s written on it.
That’s why we never recommend sending confidential information through email or text messages.
Instead, we provide a secure encrypted link that allows you to submit personal information safely. The data is transmitted through a protected environment designed specifically for handling sensitive information.
👉 Please click here to securely provide the requested information.
Using the secure link helps protect you, protects us, and keeps everyone out of the headlines for the wrong reasons.
A good rule of thumb:
If the information would make you uncomfortable writing it on a postcard… it probably shouldn’t be sent in an email.
We appreciate our brokers and clients helping us maintain strong data security practices. Taking a few extra seconds to use the secure link can prevent a whole lot of headaches down the road.
For your protection, please avoid sending confidential information through regular email or text.
Use the secure link whenever personal data needs to be shared.
Because the only thing we want to insure… is your peace of mind. 🔐
by David Bell | Jul 15, 2025
Let’s be honest—cybersecurity isn’t exactly the topic that gets small business owners jazzed. It doesn’t come with cool hard hats like Workers’ Comp or shiny property like Commercial Package Policies. But it should come with a red flashing light and a guy in a hoodie typing away in a dark room… because that’s who might be snooping around your client’s data.
Cybercrime: The New Slip-and-Fall
Back in the day, the biggest business liability was someone tripping over a rogue extension cord. Now? It’s clicking on that email from “M1crosoft Support” offering a free gift card… and poof, client records are gone, bank accounts frozen, and Karen’s cake order from 2016 is in the hands of a hacker in Belarus.
Small Biz = Big Target
Here’s the kicker: small businesses are actually more likely to be targeted. Why? Because hackers know your average small business is about as cyber-prepared as a squirrel crossing the freeway. No IT department. No firewalls. And let’s be real—half of them still think “the cloud” is just a weather pattern.
That’s Where Cyber Insurance Comes In
Cyber insurance is like having Batman on speed dial. If a breach happens, it covers things like:
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Data recovery and system restoration
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Legal fees (because, surprise, lawsuits!)
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Customer notification and credit monitoring
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Ransomware payments (yep, it’s a thing now)
Don’t Let Clients Say “Oops” Later
So when you’re talking to your small biz clients—the cupcake shop, the landscaper, the yoga studio with the iPad from 2013—remind them:
Cyber insurance isn’t just for tech companies. It’s for anyone with a computer, an internet connection, and a password that hasn’t been updated since the Bush administration.
Let’s Make Cyber Insurance Sexy (Well… As Sexy As It Gets)
So, brokers, don’t skip it on the quote sheet. And clients—don’t be the person who thinks antivirus software is enough. That’s like locking the front door but leaving the back door wide open with a sign that says “we trust you.”
Bottom Line: Cyber insurance is no longer optional. It’s essential. Just like coffee, Wi-Fi, and not clicking links from Nigerian princes.
Need help quoting it? That’s where we come in. Because at The Syndicated Group, we protect your clients from all kinds of disasters—digital or otherwise.
Now go forth and insure the internet. Just… log out of Facebook first.
by David Bell | Dec 7, 2021
With the new year around the corner, you’ll be reviewing how your business did this past year and reflecting on your goals and what you want to achieve in life and in business.
Here are three inspiring examples of those who managed to make it from humble beginnings and what we can all learn from them.
Jan Koum
Koum was born into poverty in a tiny village in Ukraine. After migrating to America with his family as a teenager, Koum became fascinated with computers and eventually began working for Yahoo!
In 2009, he had the foresight to predict the future success of the embryonic mobile app industry, so he founded WhatsApp. By 2014, he’d sold it to Facebook for $19 billion. Koum’s story shows that intelligent forward planning can be the key to reaching your goals.
John Paul DeJoria
DeJoria began his working life moving from low-paid job to low-paid job, from shifts as a janitor to delivering newspapers. Befriending Paul Mitchell while working in hair care, the pair took out a small loan of $700 and founded John Paul Mitchell Systems, today a global conglomerate.
Since then, he has helped to found Patron Sports and is worth over $3.1 billion, proving that strong drive and good friendships can take you farther than you think.
Kevin Plank Plank was on the edge of going broke when he decided to put his life savings together with a $40,000 advance on a credit card to fund a company selling clothing under his brand, Under Armor.
After making a $17,000 sale to Georgia Tech University, sales to 24 NFL teams followed, and in a few short years, it turned into a multimillion dollar company. Today the company is worth billions. Plank’s journey shows the power of investing in yourself!
by David Bell | Dec 6, 2021
With the new year around the corner, you’ll be reviewing how your business did this past year and reflecting on your goals and what you want to achieve in life and in business.
Here are three inspiring examples of those who managed to make it from humble beginnings and what we can all learn from them.
Jan Koum
Koum was born into poverty in a tiny village in Ukraine. After migrating to America with his family as a teenager, Koum became fascinated with computers and eventually began working for Yahoo!
In 2009, he had the foresight to predict the future success of the embryonic mobile app industry, so he founded WhatsApp. By 2014, he’d sold it to Facebook for $19 billion. Koum’s story shows that intelligent forward planning can be the key to reaching your goals.
John Paul DeJoria
DeJoria began his working life moving from low-paid job to low-paid job, from shifts as a janitor to delivering newspapers. Befriending Paul Mitchell while working in hair care, the pair took out a small loan of $700 and founded John Paul Mitchell Systems, today a global conglomerate.
Since then, he has helped to found Patron Sports and is worth over $3.1 billion, proving that strong drive and good friendships can take you farther than you think.
Kevin Plank Plank was on the edge of going broke when he decided to put his life savings together with a $40,000 advance on a credit card to fund a company selling clothing under his brand, Under Armor.
After making a $17,000 sale to Georgia Tech University, sales to 24 NFL teams followed, and in a few short years, it turned into a multimillion dollar company. Today the company is worth billions. Plank’s journey shows the power of investing in yourself!
by David Bell | Nov 3, 2021
Reputational harm is one of the greatest business threats today. How can business owners best protect their companies?
Your business reputation is simply what others think and feel about your business. Those thoughts and feelings could be based on experiences with your business or on what people have heard about your business. And these experiences could be true or not.
Your reputation is important because potential customers don’t wait until they’ve verified accurate information about a business to decide whether to engage with it. They make decisions based on whatever information is available to them.
Your reputation can be created both online and offline. Online, it is created through your business website, your social media posts and online customer reviews. Offline, it is created through the appearance of your office or store, your events and your phone calls.
How can you maintain a good reputation? Carefully craft the appearance of your store. Maintain your offices. And think about how your behavior may be perceived. We hate to sound like a nagging mother, but if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.
If you aren’t careful, more than your reputation could be at stake. Libel and slander claims are pervasive, and the average cost to defend and settle these types of claims is more than $750,000.
For small businesses without proper coverage, these suits can prove devastating, so make sure you have the right insurance in place for your agency and your clients.
