Rough Notes
The importance of having a sound strategy in place—and what that entails By Lori Widmer When the insurance industry exited 2023, the consensus was that, in terms of mergers and acquisitions, the year had ended on a rather sluggish note. According to...
Posted: Nov 05, 2024
Providing customers with the right tools, resources and experiences can amplify an independent agent’s value By Lori Widmer It seems that for years there have been those forecasting the demise of independent agents and brokers. The growth of direct w...
Posted: Nov 05, 2024
A valuable resource for insurance network leaders By Ray Scotto When the inaugural meeting of the Insurance Networks Alliance (INA) took place in 2018, attendees approached the gathering with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. Many wondered about the...
Posted: Nov 05, 2024
A guide for agents and brokers on the peril, its impact, mitigation steps and response By Thomas Brocksmith As natural catastrophes go, hail probably isn’t at the top of the list of perils that keep most people up at night. Yet, every year, hail is...
Posted: Nov 01, 2024
“By keeping our customers focused on what they are buying and why, we create a relationship that is based on service, communication, and choice.” —Cyrus Jaffery Founder and CEO Family agency in Omaha becomes personal lines powerhouse in just five yea...
Posted: Nov 01, 2024
It takes time to design the perfect forms and content management system for producers. Visionaries say 35 years ought to do it. By Lori Widmer If Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Etsy morphed together into an insurance app, the result would be inchanted. S...
Posted: Nov 01, 2024
Texas agency owner appreciative of those who helped shape his journey By Christopher W. Cook In the insurance industry, certain dedicated young professionals stand out among their peers and are members of an elite squad of individuals. These are thei...
Posted: Nov 01, 2024
With Veterans Day observing its 70th anniversary, two insurance professionals share their military experiences By Christopher W. Cook Seventy years ago, in 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill presented by U.S. Representative Ed Rees (Kans...
Posted: Nov 01, 2024
Customizable data analytics platform built internally by one agency goes public to help others succeed By Christopher W. Cook Back in 2018 and 2019, I wrote a series about the misadventures of Ernie and Oliver, two inexperienced agency owners who had...
Posted: Nov 01, 2024
Recommendations to share with clients to lower their risk profile By Eric Spacek Winter is fraught with risk for your customers. From slips and falls on ice, to vehicle troubles, to the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning, there are myriad reasons wh...
Posted: Nov 01, 2024
How to create a healthier workplace through philanthropy Agencies that also weave charitable giving into an environment of inclusivity will create an even more enriching workplace, paving the path to better business results. By Lisa Lounsbury What’s...
Posted: Nov 01, 2024
A look at your crucial role in helping organizations identify and manage risks I realized that no amount of insurance could heal a serious injury or loss of life, and there were several risks where insurance wasn’t even a solution. By Randy Boss, CRM...
Posted: Nov 01, 2024
An exercise to develop a picture of what it costs to write and keep an account on the books There are many moving parts along the journey to understanding and identifying account profitability—but it is well worth the effort to uncover it. By Cheryl...
Posted: Nov 01, 2024
How to play to win It’s not about being busy; it’s about creating results. By Roger Sitkins According to the latest Growth and Profitability Study from Reagan Consulting, agency organic growth dropped to just 8.5% in both the first and second quarter...
Posted: Nov 01, 2024
Managing risks for unit owners and association boards Some condo owners receiving special assessment fees may be faced with the need to sell their units in Florida’s weak real estate market with rising insurance costs. By Sarah Warhaftig, J.D., CRM I...
Posted: Nov 01, 2024
Show your clients that you’re more than just another transactional agent [E]mpathy isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s essential. In a world full of empty noise, being genuinely human is your superpower. By Carolyn Smith, APR, TRA Consumers today are sk...
Posted: Nov 01, 2024
A look at the concept, the culprit and the consequences Consider that your need to micromanage might be stifling just the productivity—and creativity—you’ve hired your team to provide. By Meg McKeen, CIC We all know those people, the relationships we...
Posted: Nov 01, 2024
Senators propose criminal sanctions “It is critical for these bad actors to be held criminally responsible and implement common sense consumer protections so families can confidently purchase quality, affordable health care insurance that works for t...
Posted: Nov 01, 2024
INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASES Digested from case reports published online COURT DECISIONS What does “cancellation” mean? Nhiem Tran and Nung Ha had a fire insurance policy with Nationwide General Insurance Company. Nationwide canceled the policy beca...
Posted: Nov 01, 2024
INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASES Digested from case reports published online COURT DECISIONS Subcontractor “goes bare” American Building Innovation LP (ABI) was hired by Balfour Beatty Construction, LLC, (Balfour Beatty) as a subcontractor for a school...
Posted: Nov 01, 2024
INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASES Digested from case reports published online COURT DECISIONS Bad day for insurer on UIM claim In 2019, Acuity Insurance Company issued Terra-Tek, LLC, a commercial auto policy, and Terra-Tek paid a premium to list owners...
Posted: Nov 01, 2024
Seizing the opportunity to learn pain points and figure out how you can truly help When you actually provide that cure and continue to keep them from falling “ill” again, you are in a great position to have a client for a long time. by Michael Wayne...
Posted: Oct 31, 2024
Has success in rebuffing COVID claims reduced the scope of income coverage? Since 2020, courts have changed their tune. Why? We all know why: the COVID-19 pandemic. By Joseph S. Harrington, CPCU Attorney Richard P. Lewis of the law firm Reed Smith is...
Posted: Oct 24, 2024
INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASES Digested from case reports published online COURT DECISIONS In search of defense costs Ferrellgas Partners L.P. and its subsidiaries had a claims-made policy with Zurich American Insurance Company that included a provisi...
Posted: Oct 01, 2024
INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASES Digested from case reports published online COURT DECISIONS Bad news for title appellants On September 28, 2016, Sanford Sachtleben and Luciann Hruza purchased approximately 20 acres of land unimproved except for a barn...
Posted: Oct 01, 2024