Vanessa's Vocational Day at Assurera

The team set out for its first vocational day in Gallivare bright and early on Thursday, April 3rd. I (Vanessa) visited Assurera, a small insurance brokerage company specializing in private pension placements and insurance solutions. The company is small, with a total of 4 employees, and was founded 5 years ago by Mikael Lundman. He and one his employees, Annika, spent the entire day telling me about his company and the Swedish insurance brokerage and pension system, as well as employee benefits.

Employees have great social benefits in Sweden, and thus, costs are great for small employers. Three types of insurances available are arbelsogormaga(illness/disability), alderdom (pension), and dodsfell(death/life insurance). Within each of these categories is a pyramid type structure of protection. The base and largest portion of the pyramid is provided by the government, the second level of the pyramid is provided by the union, and the top of the pyramid is additional protection the individual may purchase.

The government stipulates how/provides a guideline of how funds should be allocated:

Stocks: 43.5%
Bonds: 40.5%
Alternative Investments: 8.5%
Real Estate: 7.5%

Companies have to work within those guidelines. Most rules are set to protect employees.

In addition, employees get generous maternity, sick, and vacation times in Swedish companies. Women can take a year or more for maternity leave, and the men get time off as well. The government pays families a certain stipend when a new baby is born until it is 18. Sick time is unlimited.


Overall, it was a very interesting and informative day.