IA Magazine

How Organizations Are Addressing Active Shooter Risks

Although it's a difficult discussion to have, it's necessary to address this rapidly evolving and expanding risk.

Posted: Dec 03, 2019

Professional Liability Market Poised to Tighten Slightly in 2020

Small business owners are facing a variety of new and challenging exposures, which are shifting the makeup of professional liability risk and changing the way business owners must approach risk management.

Posted: Dec 01, 2019

From the Front Lines: Professional Liability

In the professional liability insurance industry, independent agent Kaitlin Kelly says that it's valuable to spend time with and learn alongside the professionals you protect.

Posted: Dec 01, 2019

Will the Labor Shortage Force the Workers Comp Market to Turn?

Despite several years of ample capacity and rate decreases in the workers compensation insurance market, the persistent labor shortage could present serious challenges in the near future.

Posted: Nov 24, 2019

Congress Extends NFIP on Short-Term Basis

The Big “I” supports and continues to advocate for the House to pass legislation to reauthorize the NFIP for five years with reforms.

Posted: Nov 20, 2019

Wheels of Progress: Nationwide’s Tech Collaboration with Amazon

Nationwide's Amazon Echo Auto device giveaway demonstrates how tech helps agents bring relevance and value to their clients.

Posted: Nov 18, 2019

State of the Workers Comp Market: ‘Not Unprecedented, but Really Unusual’

Most insurance market cycles are pretty straightforward—yet what’s currently happening in the workers compensation market defies the usual logic.

Posted: Nov 17, 2019

Big ‘I’ Successful in Advocating for Federal Reporting Requirement Exemption

The Big “I” was the only producer group that advocated on behalf of independent agents and brokers to exclude them from new onerous requirements included in the "Corporate Transparency Act."

Posted: Oct 23, 2019

Are You Playing Chess or Checkers?

While others approach business with a one-move-at-a-time checkers mindset, you can get ahead of the game with a chess mindset.

Posted: Oct 21, 2019

DOL Overtime Rule Basics for Big ‘I’ Members

Big “I” members, along with other employers, must adhere to new regulations on overtime pay from the U.S. Department of Labor by Jan. 1, 2020. To learn more about the major regulatory change on overtime pay, watch a Big "I" webinar.

Posted: Oct 09, 2019

Troubling Bill to Expand RRG Coverage Introduced in House

Last week, concerning legislation to expand the types of commercial insurance risk retention groups can offer to nonprofit organizations was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Posted: Oct 02, 2019

What Digital Transformation Means for Your Carrier Relationships

Shifting customer expectations are creating a need for new business models. Here are four ways the digital transformation is improving your carrier relationships.

Posted: Oct 01, 2019

House Passes Financial Services Cannabis Legislation

On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Big “I” supported legislation designed to protect banks, insurers and insurance agents from federal penalties if they provide financial services to cannabis-related businesses legalized at the st...

Posted: Sep 25, 2019

Senate Passes Short-Term NFIP Extension

Earlier today, the U.S. Senate passed government funding legislation that extends the NFIP through Nov. 21. The legislation now heads to the president's desk where it is expected to be signed into law.

Posted: Sep 25, 2019

Big ‘I’ Sends Letter Urging Terrorism Risk Insurance Reauthorization

The Big “I” joined more than 300 organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in sending a letter urging Congress to pass a long-term reauthorization of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, which is currently scheduled to expire on Dec. 31, 20...

Posted: Sep 18, 2019

How Servicing Your Community Strengthens Your Book

Building rapport within the community is a great way to start a meaningful conversation about insurance.

Posted: Sep 17, 2019

Technology Deep Dive: The Internet of Things in Life-Health

In the life-health sector, the Internet of Things and wearable technology will provide more information, better insights, improved efficacy and preferable outcomes in consumers’ overall health and life expectancy.

Posted: Aug 06, 2019

Taking Over: Meet Millennial Agent Colten Zamrzla

Colten Zamrzla's priority is to protect his clients by always acting with integrity, "even if it means losing a sale," he says. "There’s nothing more important than protecting your reputation and sticking to your convictions."

Posted: Jul 31, 2019

Taking Over: Meet Millennial Agent Annie Wilson

Like many other millennials, Annie Wilson is a jack of all trades. "I do mostly personal lines, but I also work on IT, social media, marketing," she says. "The insurance space is a great industry with so many different opportunities, which is super e...

Posted: Jul 29, 2019

How Paid Parental Leave is Evolving

While the Family and Medical Leave Act provides a baseline for unpaid parental leave for both mothers and fathers, federal law does not yet comprehensively address paid parental leave—leaving individual states and employers to take matters into their...

Posted: Jul 25, 2019

Taking Over: Meet Millennial Agent Jenny Saint Preux

Jenny Saint Preux admits that "insurance has a horrible rap for being very boring," but if the industry is going to change its perception, "we have to push diversity in all forms," she says. "We have to get more women in higher positions, underwritin...

Posted: Jul 23, 2019

Taking Over: Meet Millennial Agent Jenni Mathis

Jenni Mathis was convinced she wasn’t meant for an office job. But after several years of pursuing her passion—wilderness therapy—she eventually found her way back to insurance. “I used to navigate the risk of a river or a hiking trail,” she says. “N...

Posted: Jul 22, 2019

Taking Over: Meet Millennial Agent Cristal Llorens

The fact that Cristal Llorens speaks four languages gives her agency a serious competitive advantage. “It’s great for customer service, because I may have a customer who speaks a little English, but they just feel more comfortable speaking in their o...

Posted: Jul 16, 2019

Taking Over: Meet Millennial Agent Antulio Goncalves

For Antulio Goncalves, who has spent his entire insurance career working as a producer, what’s exciting about insurance is sales. “I never had a salary—just straight commission,” he says. “I have all the flexibility I want, but I’m paid based on perf...

Posted: Jul 15, 2019

Taking Over: Meet Millennial Agent Jennifer Garriques

Jennifer Garriques says she was born into the insurance industry and expects to take the reins of her family's agency in the future. “I often speak with existing customers who knew my grandfather, and I like hearing those stories,” she says. “It real...

Posted: Jul 09, 2019