Rough Notes
INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASESDigested from case reports published onlineCOURT DECISIONS Lender-placed hazard policy benefit was expressly provided Ellen Williams purchased a residential property in Houma, Louisiana, which was mortgaged by Flagstar Ba...
Posted: Jun 02, 2025
INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASESDigested from case reports published online Coverage denied for driver who transported marijuana Starting in about February 2022, Andrew Murphy was employed as a full-time delivery driver for GE United Technologies, LLC,...
Posted: Jun 02, 2025
Contractual provisions that new agents should be aware of New agents almost certainly aren’t aware of the language contained within carrier contracts, but this needs to be considered any time claims are concerned. By Marc McNulty, CIC, CRM New agen...
Posted: Jun 02, 2025
If Einstein were alive today, even he’d be stumped by the chaos One of the biggest killers of innovation? The phrase “that’s how we’ve always done it.” By Carolyn Smith, APR, TRA If Einstein were alive today, even he’d be scratching his head at the...
Posted: Jun 02, 2025
VIRTUAL AND REMOTE PHILANTHROPY FOR INDEPENDENT AGENCIES Making philanthropy part of your agency’s DNA By offering a variety of virtual engagement options, agencies can make philanthropy accessible to all employees, regardless of their schedules or l...
Posted: Jun 02, 2025
Product enhancements drive continuing growth “[I]n the last five years it’s been a ‘space race’ of innovation in supplemental health.” —Conner Tung Mid-South Ancillary Team Lead USI By Thomas A. McCoy, CLU Rising deductibles and co-pays in high-ded...
Posted: Jun 02, 2025
To the insurance professional with a true servant’s heart, it’s what makes the job worthwhile The biggest joy for insurance agency leaders who choose this path is in witnessing those “aha!” moments, when associates display their “inner insurance nerd...
Posted: Jun 02, 2025
Managing private passenger cost increases without boosting exposure to loss Advising insureds about how to reduce their exposures can help make coverage more affordable for them and help reduce carrier’s loss costs—a win-win during uncertain times. B...
Posted: Jun 02, 2025
Popular “gigs” create cover problems [W]ith a growing gig economy … the lines between business and personal activities have become blurred … . By Bruce D. Hicks, CPCU, CLU The Court Decisions column is a popular part of Rough Notes magazine. One re...
Posted: May 30, 2025
Five behaviors that limit your impact No matter how much you know and how good your ideas are, if your behavior communicates disempowerment, you’ll never be taken as seriously as you deserve. By Kimberly Paterson, CEC Hear the word power, and what...
Posted: May 30, 2025
Transactions vs. client relationships By Patrick McBride Agents love to complain about churn, but the truth is, most are driving their own clients away. If your agency is stuck in a sales-first mindset, do not be surprised when customers treat you li...
Posted: May 30, 2025
How to prepare property and lower insurance costs against severe storms By Jeff Zehr Severe convective storms (SCS) have become a big risk factor for the insurance industry. These major weather events, also known as thunderstorms, can include lightni...
Posted: May 30, 2025
Vertafore survey reveals how independent agents are evaluating their carriers By Mike Erlandson In today’s challenging insurance market, the relationship between independent agents and carriers is under a microscope. Premiums are rising, underwriting...
Posted: May 30, 2025
Members of the Breezy Seguros team This trilingual Massachusetts agency provides insurance services to the Latino community By Dennis H. Pillsbury The Latino community is one of the fastest growing demographics in the United States. While it currentl...
Posted: May 30, 2025
By focusing on the most time-consuming process—policy review—Qumis delivers accurate, swift results that empower users with relevant data By Lori Widmer Dan Schuleman wants you to have your weekends back. Schuleman, cofounder and CEO of Qumis, reme...
Posted: May 30, 2025
In fond memory, Walter Gdowski, 1946-2025 On May 12, 2025, everything changed for us here at Rough Notes. That’s the day we lost a friend, a mentor, a champion. Our boss. Although Walt may have left us physically, his spirit and passion for us and th...
Posted: May 30, 2025
Using generational diversity to better understand and serve clients By Jennifer Palmieri Nearly every workforce today, including the insurance industry, is made up of five generations of employees. From traditionalists (born 1922-1945) to baby boome...
Posted: May 30, 2025
The landscape, common myths and how to prepare for the future By Alexis Cierra Vaughn Let’s be honest: When we first heard the term “insurtech,” many of us in the independent agency arena got a little nervous. We pictured a tech-driven takeover all a...
Posted: May 30, 2025
Connecticut-based young pro tackles marketing, mastermind event planning, and more 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. T...
Posted: May 30, 2025
Cultivating agency careers by proper technology deployment By Stephanie MacCormack At The MacCormack Agency, my family-owned business in New Jersey, we’ve always been focused on taking care of our clients. We also recognize the importance of attracti...
Posted: May 30, 2025
Ways you can help get business owners ready for wildfires and hurricanes While I live by the motto, “Stay ready,” instead of “Get ready,” or “Get prepared,” in reality not everyone is ready for the possibility of what a wildfire or hurricane could...
Posted: May 29, 2025
Never an easy answer for a fraught question There may be nothing more awkward for an agent or broker than to find a client being sued by an insurer the producer recommended to protect the client from lawsuits. By Joseph S. Harrington, CPCU There’s a...
Posted: May 23, 2025
INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASESDigested from case reports published onlineCOURT DECISIONS No joy for surviving spouse Alan Stroud bought a 20-year term life policy with a $60,000 death benefit from Ozark National Life Insurance Company agent Gene Spoon...
Posted: May 02, 2025
INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASESDigested from case reports published onlineCOURT DECISIONS Liberal interpretation of pollution exclusion Seventeen-year-old Josiah Wheeler rented a cabin in Tok, Alaska, that was owned by Deborah Overly and Terry Summers....
Posted: May 02, 2025
INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASESDigested from case reports published onlineCOURT DECISIONS Good news for roofer Thomas Napolitano, a roofing business owner, sought a judgment declaring that Ace American Insurance Company, a workers compensation carrier,...
Posted: May 02, 2025