Insurance Talk Texas

About Insurance Talk Texas

Insurance Talk Texas is the go-to podcast for anyone looking to understand the ever-changing world of insurance across the Lone Star State. Hosted in partnership with AR Schell & Son Agency—Collin County's oldest independent insurance agency, serving Texans since 1930—this show brings expert insights, practical advice, and real-world stories to help individuals, families, and businesses make informed insurance decisions. Each episode breaks down complex topics like auto, home, business, and life insurance into easy-to-understand conversations, while also covering emerging issues like flood coverage, liability protection, and risk management in Texas’s unique climate and economy. Whether you’re a first-time policyholder, a small business owner, or simply curious about how insurance impacts your life, Insurance Talk Texas delivers the knowledge you need—with local expertise you can trust. Be sure to visit AR Schell & Son Agency at https://schellinsurance.com (https://schellinsurance.com) for all your Texas insurance needs!

Publisher

AR Schell & Son Agency

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Aug 2025

Latest episode

11 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

58 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Oct 2026

   Contractor Surety Bonds in Texas: Payment and Performance Bonds Explained for North Texas Contractors

   Call Schell Insurance at (972) 423-4546 for a personalized quote or visit https://schellinsurance.com to learn more about their comprehensive insurance solutions. You just won a public bid in Collin County, and the award letter gives you ten days to deliver a payment bond and a performance bond. Do you know how to get them? In this episode of Insurance Talk Texas, we break down contractor surety bonds in plain English, so North Texas contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers know exactly how bonding works before the clock starts ticking. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: - Why a surety bond is not insurance, and how the three-party relationship between the principal, the obligee, and the surety actually works - Why sureties expect zero losses and how the general indemnity agreement lets them collect from the contractor - What the Texas Little Miller Act, Chapter 2253 of the Texas Government Code, requires on public work contracts - The difference between a performance bond, which protects the owner, and a payment bond, which protects subcontractors and suppliers - Why public work on school, city, and county projects in Collin and Denton counties runs through these bond requirements - How sureties evaluate contractors using the three Cs: character, capacity, and capital - What a bid bond is and why owners ask for one with your proposal - How subcontractors and suppliers protect payment rights, including the notice deadline of the fifteenth day of the third month after each month of unpaid work - The waiting period and one year deadline for filing suit on a payment bond - Four common bonding mistakes, from overextending to ignoring the indemnity agreement WHO SHOULD WATCH: This episode is built for general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and construction business owners in Frisco, McKinney, Plano, Prosper, Allen, and across Collin County and Denton County who want to bid on public work. If you have ever lost a project because you could not deliver bonds fast enough, or you are a subcontractor wondering how to get paid when a prime contractor stops paying, this conversation is for you. SURETY BONDS VS. INSURANCE: Your commercial general liability policy responds to third party injury and property damage claims. It does not guarantee that you will finish a job or pay your suppliers. That is the job of surety. Think of a surety bond as a credential that proves you are good for it. It opens doors to public projects that unbonded competitors simply cannot bid. THE ARC CONTINUES: This episode builds on our North Texas business and construction series covering commercial general liability, builder's risk, contractors' tools and equipment, commercial property, commercial auto, commercial umbrella, and workers' compensation. Together, these topics help North Texas contractors build a complete protection program from the ground up. ABOUT SCHELL INSURANCE: Schell Insurance is an independent insurance agency in Historic Downtown Plano, serving families and businesses across North Texas. As an independent agency, Schell Insurance works with multiple carriers to find coverage that fits your real-world needs, and the agency has offered bonds and surety services since the 1930s. From contractor bonding to commercial general liability, commercial auto, umbrella, workers' compensation, and business insurance programs, the Schell Insurance team helps contractors prepare before the award letter arrives. SCHELL INSURANCE SERVICES: - Contractor surety bonds and bid bonds - Commercial general liability insurance - Builder's risk insurance - Commercial property insurance - Commercial auto insurance - Commercial umbrella and excess liability - Workers' compensation - Business insurance for North Texas companies - Auto, home, renters, life, and umbrella insurance for families START THE BONDING CONVERSATION BEFORE YOU NEED IT: Do not wait for the award letter. Call Schell Insurance at (972) 423-4546 or visit https://schellinsurance.com to talk with a local team about surety bonds and your full contractor insurance program. This video is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Bond requirements, thresholds, and notice deadlines depend on the specific project and contract, so consult a licensed insurance professional and a construction attorney about your situation. Subscribe to Insurance Talk Texas for weekly insurance education built for North Texas business owners and families. #SuretyBonds #ContractorBonds #PaymentBond #PerformanceBond #BidBond #LittleMillerAct #TexasContractors #TexasInsurance #NorthTexas #CollinCounty #DentonCounty #McKinneyTX #PlanoTX #FriscoTX #ProsperTX #AllenTX #ConstructionInsurance #CommercialInsurance #PublicWorks #SchellInsurance #InsuranceTalkTexas #IndependentAgent

2. 

   4 Oct 2026

   Is Workers' Comp Required in Texas? Non-Subscriber Risks for North Texas Businesses | Insurance Talk Texas

   Call Schell Insurance at (972) 423-4546 for a personalized quote or visit https://schellinsurance.com to learn more about their comprehensive insurance solutions. Is workers' compensation required in Texas? For most private employers, the answer is no. Texas is the only state that lets private employers opt out. But "optional" doesn't mean "risk free." In this episode of Insurance Talk Texas, we break down what it really means to be a subscriber or a non-subscriber, why it matters for contractors and business owners in Frisco, McKinney, Plano, Prosper, Allen, and across Collin and Denton County, and what to review before an injury forces the question. IN THIS EPISODE: Why Texas is the only state where most private employers can skip workers' comp What the Texas Department of Insurance survey found about how many employers carry coverage How the exclusive remedy works for employers who subscribe What non-subscribers give up, including the contributory negligence, assumption of risk, and fellow employee defenses Annual notice and reporting duties for employers without coverage Texas workplace fatality data, including construction's share of the total Texas Labor Code section 406.096 and what governmental entities require from contractors and subcontractors on public building and construction projects Why private general contractors across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex often demand a certificate of coverage before work begins The independent contractor trap and why a signed agreement does not satisfy the public project certification requirement How workers' compensation premiums are built: payroll, class codes, and the experience modifier Why premium audits surprise so many contractors, and how uninsured subcontractors can add payroll to your audit What Part Two, employers liability, covers and how it connects to your umbrella policy Whether non-subscribing is ever the right call, and why it needs professional guidance WHO SHOULD WATCH: General contractors, framers, roofers, concrete crews, electricians, plumbers, landscapers, restaurant owners, dental and medical offices, warehouse operators, retailers, and every North Texas business owner with employees or subcontractors. If you have ever wondered whether you need workers' comp, whether your subs are covered, or why your premium changed at audit, this episode is for you. WHY IT MATTERS IN NORTH TEXAS: Collin and Denton County are among the busiest building markets in the country. New homes, schools, retail centers, and commercial projects mean more crews, more ladders, and more contracts that require proof of coverage. A missing certificate can cost you a bid. A misclassified worker can cost you far more. Knowing where you stand before a claim happens is one of the smartest moves a business owner can make. ABOUT SCHELL INSURANCE: Schell Insurance is an independent insurance agency serving North Texas families and businesses. As an independent agency, Schell Insurance can shop multiple options, review your classifications and certificates, and help you understand your coverage in plain English. Whether you need workers' compensation, general liability, commercial property, commercial auto, umbrella coverage, builder's risk, or tools and equipment coverage, the team is ready to help. CONTACT SCHELL INSURANCE: Phone: (972) 423-4546 Website: https://schellinsurance.com RELATED EPISODES IN THE BUSINESS INSURANCE SERIES: Commercial umbrella and excess liability Commercial auto insurance Commercial property insurance Contractors' tools and equipment and inland marine Builder's risk insurance Commercial general liability ABOUT INSURANCE TALK TEXAS: Insurance Talk Texas is a podcast and video series that explains insurance topics for Texas homeowners, drivers, families, and business owners. Each episode is presented by Schell Insurance and focuses on practical, Texas-specific information so you can make informed decisions. Subscribe so you never miss an episode. This video is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or insurance advice. Coverage, eligibility, and requirements vary by situation, and policy terms control. Contact a licensed insurance professional about your specific circumstances. #WorkersCompensation #TexasWorkersComp #WorkersCompTexas #NonSubscriber #TexasInsurance #InsuranceTalkTexas #SchellInsurance #CommercialInsurance #ContractorInsurance #SmallBusinessInsurance #PlanoTX #McKinneyTX #FriscoTX #CollinCounty #DentonCounty #NorthTexas #DFWBusiness #BusinessInsurance #IndependentInsuranceAgency

3. 

   27 Sept 2026

   Commercial Umbrella Insurance in Texas: Why Nuclear Verdicts Mean North Texas Businesses Need Extra Liability Coverage | Insurance Talk Texas

   Call Schell Insurance at (972) 423-4546 for a personalized quote or visit https://schellinsurance.com to learn more about their comprehensive insurance solutions Texas led the nation in nuclear verdicts last year, jury awards exceeding ten million dollars, and North Texas courtrooms have historically produced some of the largest awards in the state. If your business carries general liability, commercial auto, or employer's liability coverage, those verdicts can blow straight through your policy limits in a single afternoon. In this episode of Insurance Talk Texas, presented by Schell Insurance, we break down commercial umbrella and excess liability insurance, what they actually cover, how they differ from each other, and why more business owners across Frisco, McKinney, Plano, Prosper, Allen, and the greater Collin and Denton County area are adding this protection to their programs. We cover the real difference between excess liability, which extends the limits of one specific underlying policy, and commercial umbrella coverage, which sits above multiple policies at once and can sometimes drop down to fill coverage gaps your primary policies don't address. We explain self-insured retentions, underlying limit requirements, and the difference between true umbrella coverage and follow-form excess policies that simply mirror whatever your underlying policy already says. We also connect this conversation back to our previous episodes on commercial auto insurance and commercial general liability, since umbrella coverage is designed to work alongside both. For contractors and subcontractors bidding jobs across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, this episode also covers why general contractors increasingly require specific umbrella limits before you're even eligible to bid, and why waiting until renewal season to have this conversation can cost you work. Whether your employees drive for the business, your operations interact regularly with the public, or you're bidding on larger commercial contracts, this episode walks through exactly why your current liability limits might not be enough given today's Texas litigation environment. Schell Insurance is an independent insurance agency serving business owners throughout North Texas, including Frisco, McKinney, Plano, Prosper, Allen, and the broader Collin and Denton County region. Their team works directly with business owners to review actual operations, contracts, and driving exposure before recommending coverage, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all policy. Services include commercial general liability, commercial auto, commercial property, builder's risk, contractors' tools and equipment coverage, workers' compensation, cyber liability, management liability lines including directors and officers and employment practices liability, and commercial umbrella and excess liability programs built specifically around each client's risk profile. If you've been putting off a conversation about whether your liability limits are actually enough, now is the time to have it. Call Schell Insurance at nine seven two, four two three, four five four six, or visit Schell Insurance dot com, that's S-C-H-E-L-L Insurance dot com, to schedule a review of your current program. Insurance Talk Texas is an educational podcast and YouTube series produced for Texas business owners and North Texas communities, covering the insurance topics, coverage gaps, and regulatory changes that actually affect how local businesses protect themselves. New episodes explore commercial insurance lines, risk management strategies, and the Texas-specific legal and market trends shaping what coverage business owners actually need. Subscribe to Insurance Talk Texas for more episodes on commercial insurance topics affecting North Texas business owners, contractors, and entrepreneurs. #InsuranceTalkTexas #SchellInsurance #CommercialUmbrellaInsurance #ExcessLiabilityInsurance #NorthTexasBusiness #TexasInsurance #DFWBusiness #CommercialInsurance #BusinessLiabilityInsurance #FriscoTX #McKinneyTX #PlanoTX #ProsperTX #AllenTX #CollinCounty #DentonCounty #NuclearVerdicts #ContractorInsurance #SmallBusinessInsurance #TexasBusinessOwners #DallasFortWorth #LiabilityCoverage #IndependentInsuranceAgency #BusinessInsurance101

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Guest appearances

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.