Rough Notes
Senator Brown and Secretary Yellen discuss baffling and terrifying forms of risk “When Wall Street tries to shapeshift to evade the watchdogs we depend on, FSOC [Financial Stability Oversight Council] must be there to take action to protect our econo...
Posted: May 03, 2024
Making sure you have what you need in place to satisfy customers and grow your business Don’t fall victim to the shiny object syndrome, which is what many owners do. Be patient, block out the noise, and involve your teammates in making the best decis...
Posted: May 02, 2024
Explaining details in coverage forms prevents confusion [W]e as agents need to do a better job of understanding the nuances of company-specific coverage forms and properly conveying those differences to our clients. By Marc McNulty, CIC, CRM Earlier...
Posted: May 02, 2024
Making sure acquisitions result in the expected return Developing a detailed “snapshot” of an agency’s data … gives the seller invaluable insights into its overall culture—and whether it will be a match with the buyer’s approach to doing business. Th...
Posted: May 02, 2024
When success means questions are more important than answers The characteristics of good questions include being purposeful, relevant to the subjects being discussed, clear, neutral in intent, and specific to the information desired—and, most importa...
Posted: May 02, 2024
The 7 eagle qualities that help agency leaders reach new heights [T]urbulence lifts (eagles) higher, ultimately allowing them to conserve energy once they’re above the storm. By Brent Kelly When you think of the eagle—our national symbol of courage,...
Posted: May 02, 2024
How Retention Software Can Help Your Agency Succeed Addressing the daunting task of renewal management By Vijay Rengarajan, CPCU The hard market continues. Premiums are increasing, insurance companies are more selective about the risks they cover, an...
Posted: May 01, 2024
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan’s Risk Management Industry Club introduces the next gen-eration to the wide scope of insurance careers By Maura C. Ciccarelli Photography courtesy of BGCSM and NAAIA Foundation In May 2023, 15-year-old...
Posted: May 01, 2024
It doesn’t matter our job title; we all can be leaders By Carey Wallace Leadership in its simplest form is the ability of an individual to influence and guide others. That sounds pretty straightforward, but in actuality it is not. There is a reason w...
Posted: May 01, 2024
Indiana young pro creates agency division dedicated to the beauty industry 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...
Posted: May 01, 2024
The importance of crisis communications for insurance agents and brokers By Thomas Mustac In the insurance industry, building and maintaining trust with clients is the foundation of success. A crisis—whether caused by internal missteps or external ev...
Posted: May 01, 2024
Two agency principals share U.S. Army experiences and insights on veterans joining the insurance industry By Christopher W. Cook As in previous May issues of Rough Notes, to sync with the Memorial Day holiday, we’re sharing the stories of two veteran...
Posted: May 01, 2024
Stop loss executives foresee strong growth By Thomas A. McCoy The importance of having relevant data in making decisions rises in proportion to the amount of money at stake. Thus, when their health benefits costs rise to a certain point, employers be...
Posted: May 01, 2024
  Two-year-old Kansas agency has an 80-plus-year history By Dennis H. Pillsbury On January 1, 2022, Iron Insurance Partners was formed with its headquarters centrally located  in Salina, Kansas. The new agency was the result of a merger of...
Posted: Apr 30, 2024
What to do as your emotions run the gamut [I]f your new organization is competent, someone is working to get you the answers you want and need. Bear in mind, the reality may be that there are no definitive answers that can be given and your superio...
Posted: Apr 25, 2024
Accessory dwelling units will test agents’ ingenuity As “dwellings within dwellings” or “households within households, ” ADU arrangements produce countless complexities that agents and brokers must be prepared to address … . By Joseph S. Harri...
Posted: Apr 18, 2024
Providing context and feedback is critical [Real-time feedback] facilitates learning and enables one to improve and adjust one’s performance in the moment, rather than having to address problems after the fact. By Kari Glennon Personally and professi...
Posted: Mar 28, 2024
Is there such a thing as too high a level of growth and retention? It is important to define acceptable levels of growth and retention … . Metrics matter; be sure to define your goals, and how each staff member will contribute. By Cheryl Koch, CPCU,...
Posted: Mar 28, 2024
Creating a profile and posting a few times per week is no longer enough By Jacklyn Lavoie Social media is a great way for independent insurance agents and brokers to connect with people and generate new business leads. Perhaps it should come as no su...
Posted: Mar 28, 2024
MākuSafe has taken safety programs out of reactionary mode and into proactive, data-rich prevention and planning “If you and I are on a jobsite, … what we’ve experienced, even though we were just ten feet apart from each other, is completely unique f...
Posted: Mar 28, 2024
Is it a great idea or a pitfall? While promoting the top producer to a leadership position might seem obvious, it is essential to consider the broader skills required for successful management. By Carolyn Smith, APR, TRA In many agencies, a common p...
Posted: Mar 28, 2024
Strategies to safeguard a business from submerged threats [T]he key to success is not just weathering the storm but avoiding it altogether. By Randy Boss, CRM, MWCA, SHRM-SCP A business managing risks can be compared to navigating treacherous waters...
Posted: Mar 28, 2024
Get below the surface and find people’s real potential A landmark study of 20,000 new hires conducted by Leadership IQ revealed that 46% of newly hired employees fail within 18 months, while only 19% will achieve unequivocal success. By Kimberly Pat...
Posted: Mar 28, 2024
Skilled insurance producers and risk managers need to understand the different factors when educating their clients Armed with the facts … skilled adjusters and attorneys look at their position in the liability claim and ask themselves a sobering que...
Posted: Mar 28, 2024
WHEN LEADERSHIP ISN’T IN YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION Shifting your mindset from one of an individual contributor to one of a leader is an important one … but you don’t have to wait for the title to start making this shift. By Meg McKeen, CIC Feeling both ea...
Posted: Mar 28, 2024