Rough Notes

THE TOP 5 WAYS TO APPEAL TO PROSPECTS

Leveraging face-to-face relationships with potential insurance clients  When you are giving the rundown of coverage, do so by using examples of incidents that anyone can understand. … [R]eal-world scenarios that you can walk a prospect through to exp...

Posted: Mar 24, 2025

WILDFIRE DEDUCTIBLES

 What role can they play in property insurance? Separate wildfire deductibles could be critical in securing coverage for a peril that is location-specific yet popping up all across the continent. By Joseph S. Harrington, CPCU If they work for windsto...

Posted: Mar 20, 2025

Barging in

INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASESDigested from case reports published onlineCOURT DECISIONS Barging in In 2014, Swalling Construction Company, Inc., entered into a charter agreement with Pool Engineering, Inc., for a freight barge. Swalling obtained insu...

Posted: Mar 04, 2025

Must insurer pay for resulting loss exception?

INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASESDigested from case reports published onlineCOURT DECISIONS Must insurer pay for resulting loss exception? The Gardens Condominium purchased an all-risk policy from Farmers Insurance Exchange in 2002. This version of the p...

Posted: Mar 04, 2025

A GHOSTLY ANNIVERSARY

The current interpretation of the McCarran-Ferguson Act is only a specter of the law’s original intent The belief that McCarran-Ferguson is just an antitrust exemption for the insurance industry is just another clever humbug. By Kevin P. Hennosy Marc...

Posted: Mar 04, 2025

WINNING THE M&A GAME IN 2025

Key strategies agencies can deploy For independent insurance agency owners, it’s likely the best time in the past decade to execute a local merger and acquisition (M&A) strategy.   By James Graham, CVA Elevated, albeit historically normal, capita...

Posted: Mar 04, 2025

COMMERCIAL LINES WATER-RELATED CONSIDERATIONS

  The conundrum of “water-related or “water damage” Anyone who is new to commercial insurance can quickly get tripped up by water-related claims.   By Marc McNulty, CIC, CRM Anyone who is new to commercial insurance can quickly get tripped up by wate...

Posted: Mar 04, 2025

KEEPING OLDER WORKERS PRODUCTIVE

What strategies will work for seasoned employees? “With longevity increasing, employers need to focus even more on the levers that impact retirement readiness.” —Holly Verdeyen U.S. Defined Contribution Leader Mercer By Thomas A. McCoy, CLU Major emp...

Posted: Mar 04, 2025

How To Go From being A “Good Enough” Manager To being An Unstoppable Leader

Three power moves to try If you’re not recognizing your team consistently and specifically, you’re leaving wins on the table. By Carolyn Smith, APR, TRA Are you just a “good” manager—or are you ready to lead? Most agency managers are good, but let’s...

Posted: Feb 28, 2025

ANATOMY OF AN E&O CLAIM—PART II

  Real-world examples involving tenured employees  No matter how experienced you are, you can still make mistakes … .  And newer employees simply don’t have the “institutional knowledge” that grows from tenure in the position.   By Cheryl Koch, CPCU,...

Posted: Feb 28, 2025

ACCOUNT MANAGER BARBIE AND PRODUCER KEN

  Exploring gender bias in the independent agency system [O]ne’s gender seems to have more than a little to do with your current and future position in the agency. By Cheryl Koch, CPCU, ARM, AAI, ACSR, AFIS, and Mary Belka, CPCU, ARM, ARe, RPLU, CIC...

Posted: Dec 31, 2024

ALIGNING YOUR INSURANCE AGENCY FOR SUCCESS

Shaking off your “shimmy” [No] agency can operate properly when different teams are working independently, unaware of what others in their organization are doing. By Kari Glennon In our increasingly competitive industry, the quality of the customer e...

Posted: Dec 31, 2024

INDEMNIFICATION VERSUS HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENTS

Understanding both terms and their applications is crucial for effectively managing risk and liability Both agreements play crucial roles in risk management strategies, but they must align with legal standards and the specific needs of all parties in...

Posted: Dec 31, 2024

STOP PLAYING SMALL: THE FORMULA TO TAKE YOUR AGENCY FROM AVERAGE TO EXTRAORDINARY

Focus on circumstances, operations and humanity The best agency owners don’t sit back and complain about what’s out of their control. They look for opportunities, even in the toughest circumstances. By Carolyn Smith, APR, TRA Let’s kick off the new y...

Posted: Dec 31, 2024

IS PREMIUM FINANCE FOR YOU?

It’s here and changing the financing game for independent agencies Offering premium finance at checkout can reduce the typical premium collection time from 20 days to less than five … . By Chase Petrey Obtaining financing for insurance premiums can b...

Posted: Dec 31, 2024

ACHIEVING OSHA COMPLIANCE

How agents can add value with software tools Supporting clients with OSHA compliance is more than just checking boxes; it’s about setting up a safer work environment and preventing injuries. By Randy Boss, CRM, MWCA, SHRM-SCP In today’s regulatory en...

Posted: Dec 31, 2024

Wrestling claim denied

INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASES Digested from case reports published online COURT DECISIONS Wrestling claim denied Jodi Greenlaw, individually and as personal representative of the estate of her late husband Philip J. Greenlaw, appealed from a judgment...

Posted: Dec 31, 2024

Bad day for scooter rider

INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASES Digested from case reports published online COURT DECISIONS Bad day for scooter rider In November 2021, an automobile struck and injured David Goyco while he was operating a Segway Ninebot KickScooter Max in Elizabeth, N...

Posted: Dec 31, 2024

Who wins dispute over UIM benefits?

INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASES Digested from case reports published online COURT DECISIONS Who wins dispute over UIM benefits? Shane and Melissa Pelissier insured their automobile with GEICO General Insurance Company. Four and a half years after a mot...

Posted: Dec 31, 2024

Prioritizing Home Contents In The First Notice Of Loss Process

Advocate for a more balanced approach that values both structure and contents By Steve Gibson In recent months, several significant natural disasters, notably hurricanes and wildfires, have impacted various regions of the United States. For instance,...

Posted: Dec 31, 2024

THIRTY-SIXTH ANNUAL AGENCY OF THE YEAR CANDIDATES

Who will be the 2024 agency of the year? One of the agencies featured in a Rough Notes cover story during 2024 will be named Agency of the Year. The winner will be selected based on votes from previous Rough Notes cover agents. The nominees for this...

Posted: Dec 31, 2024

THERE ARE THREE “I’S” IN INSURANCE

Everybody’s talking about AI! But what about EI and CI? By Olga Collins Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a global phenomenon transforming every aspect of our lives and work, regardless of our location or profession. The insurance industry, traditional...

Posted: Dec 31, 2024

ESTABLISHING TECH PRIORITIES

Top trends and tools for independent agencies to stay competitive in 2025 By Jace Hopper Independent insurance agencies are under increasing pressure to balance exceptional client service with efficient operations. With more demands for their time, a...

Posted: Dec 31, 2024

MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR 2025

What changes or improvements should your agency implement this year? By Christopher W. Cook Being one of the younger folks on staff here at Rough Notes, the duty of maintaining our social media presence was bestowed on me. I tend to plan posts in adv...

Posted: Dec 31, 2024

Travelers Institute

Fifteen years of public policy education and engagement with agents and brokers, customers, and the public By Maura C. Ciccarelli Standing at the engagement point between the insurance industry and public policy since 2009, the Travelers Institute ha...

Posted: Dec 31, 2024