Rough Notes

Producers and carriers adapt to prolonged legal limbo By Joseph S. Harrington, CPCU The march to legalize recreational use of cannabis continues, with 14 states acting to do so over the past four years, mostly by voter referendum. Today, 24 states an...

Posted: Dec 29, 2023

Opportunities depend on tailoring products to employee interests By Thomas A. McCoy, CLU Employee benefits brokers have reason to be optimistic at the start of this new year. The need for traditional benefits products remains strong, and employees ar...

Posted: Dec 29, 2023

 Adapting to changes brought on by the hard market and other factors  As an agent, your genuine focus should be on making your clients’ lives easier. If your heart really isn’t in it for them, they will know. By Michael Wayne Looking ahead to 2024, i...

Posted: Dec 28, 2023

Coverage questions arise when damage is found  Although the failure to disclose occurred while  the seller was the insured owner of the property, the court agreed with the insurance company that failure to disclose in itself does not constitute an “o...

Posted: Dec 21, 2023

Tips for developing communication skills Just because you talk every day doesn’t mean you’re working on your communications skills. There’s more to it than that. By Brent Kelly Whatever your business or skillset, I’ll bet you’ve heard some form of th...

Posted: Nov 30, 2023

Artificial intelligence takes hold in benefits plans “Generative AI allows us to … create trends and insights that were not available before . We can use this to refine product recommendations … .” —Michael Estep Head of Product Prudential Group Insu...

Posted: Nov 30, 2023

Key questions a potential investor should ask before moving forward with a transaction While equity is just one part of the equation in picking a partner, it can have material ramifications on your agency’s valuation. By James Graham, CVA It has been...

Posted: Nov 30, 2023

INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASES Digested from case reports published online COURT DECISIONS EPLI dispute Kentucky State University (KSU) purchased a claims-made employment practices liability policy from Allied World Specialty Insurance Company for the...

Posted: Nov 30, 2023

INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASES Digested from case reports published online COURT DECISIONS Variable life scuffle Peter Fischl was a thoracic surgeon. After the stock market crash known as the “Great Recession” of 2008, Fischl asked his sister to recom...

Posted: Nov 30, 2023

INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASES Digested from case reports published online COURT DECISIONS Cat litter caper CC 145 Main owned an apartment building in Newmarket, New Hampshire. It purchased from Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company a businessowners pol...

Posted: Nov 30, 2023

How various communication techniques improve or hurt your relationships [A]n understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of communication can make all the difference in the ways we build relationships … . By Paul Martin, CPCU One c...

Posted: Nov 30, 2023

Tips to navigate the deep, lasting effects that change has on our relationships Appreciating how you respond to the mistakes you make and missteps you take will be as important as the decisions you make that do go as planned. By Meg McKeen, CIC The o...

Posted: Nov 30, 2023

Consider what works best for your agency by looking at these critical areas Nothing beats in-person relationships, but it is possible to create positive results through understanding and addressing the very real challenges of remote work. By Cheryl K...

Posted: Nov 30, 2023

Strengthen relationships by incorporating appreciation strategies Generosity and gratitude are contagious, and your community will recognize whether your organization  genuinely embodies it. By Carolyn Smith, TRA, ASA As year-end approaches, are you...

Posted: Nov 30, 2023

Standardized workflows and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in cancellation campaigns Your clients are more than just a number; with … advancements and new                                                                 […]

Posted: Nov 30, 2023

Did the policy’s water damage exclusion properly apply to the loss? If the insurer truly meant to exclude coverage for any loss caused by water, regardless of the water’s origin, they have some work to do on their language. By Bruce D. Hicks, CPCU, C...

Posted: Nov 30, 2023

Simplifying the renewal process with an online platform, one company gives agencies the power to deliver fast, secure, and accurate results “The platform saves time for insureds by pre-populating answers from prior years and answers for duplicate que...

Posted: Nov 30, 2023

Working on solutions ahead of time will make it easier to manage things later on Giving up control, in any situation, can be frightening, frustrating, or even traumatic. The last thing anyone wants to feel is powerless. By Michael Wayne During the la...

Posted: Nov 29, 2023

DO YOUR HOMEOWNERS CLIENTS “RESIDE” AT THEIR “DWELLINGS?”?  A critically important question for coverage  Two court cases from 2023 serve as a stark reminder to producers that it’s not enough for a policyholder simply to own a home listed on the poli...

Posted: Nov 14, 2023

INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASES Digested from case reports published online COURT DECISIONS Medical muddle Allstate Insurance Company and several of its affiliates brought actions on behalf of the state of California alleging insurance fraud under the...

Posted: Nov 01, 2023

INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASES Digested from case reports published online COURT DECISIONS Refinery rumble ExxonMobil Corporation hired Savage Refinery Services to work as an independent contractor at Exxon’s refinery in Baytown, Texas. Their working...

Posted: Nov 01, 2023

INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASES Digested from case reports published online COURT DECISIONS Michael Andary, conservator and guardian of Ellen Andary; Ronald Krueger, guardian of Philip Krueger; and Moriah, Inc., doing business as Eisenhower Center, bro...

Posted: Nov 01, 2023

INSURANCE-RELATED COURT CASES Digested from case reports published online COURT DECISIONS Garret and Shelly Falkenburg contracted with Laramie Investment Company, Inc., and its owner and president, Brad Jackson, to obtain a policy for their ranch and...

Posted: Nov 01, 2023

What beliefs and behaviors do you envision that would result in success? If everything starts with your beliefs, don’t you believe you should have a documented                                                           […]

Posted: Nov 01, 2023

Invest in technology to hire and retain team members in a difficult market Is your agency attracting young talent? If not, then maybe there                                                               […]

Posted: Nov 01, 2023