Online Extras
Magazine
- Current Issue
- Archives
eNewsletter
- Current Issue
- Archives
About Us
- Contribute Content
- Contact Us
Advertise
Subscribe
- Magazine

IA Magazine

January_05 Trusted-Choice2

Online Extras
Magazine
News & Views

Latest News

From the Magazine

AGENCY MANAGEMENT
Incentive Compensation for Non-Producers

Should employees who are not producers participate in some sort of profit-sharing or incentive compensation plans (ICPs)? Yes! An ICP can provide a powerful incentive to motivate performance if properly constructed.

SALES
Strategic Planning for Salespeople

“Ready, shoot, aim.” That’s the all-too-common description of the producer’s modus operandi. In a misguided attempt to stay busy and see as many people as possible, too many salespeople subscribe to the theory that any activity is good activity. Times have changed and the job of the salesperson has become much more complex.

CUSTOMER SERVICE
Fixing $12 Haircuts

The owner of a beauty salon was worried. He had a large and happy clientele who willingly paid his $30 per haircut fee, but noticed an obvious decline in customers when another shop opened less than a block away offering $12 haircuts. Then he came up with a brilliant idea…

TECHNOLOGY
Filesharing

All the kids are doing it. And depending on which news reports you read, it’s either the inevitable wave of the future or another sign of the collapse of our society—or both. But what is filesharing really and why should you be wary of it?

COVERAGES
Loading and Unloading…PAP or HO?

A woman who was in a wheelchair was attempting to get into her vehicle. As she turned in her chair, she accidentally hit another vehicle causing damage to the auto. The woman reported the incident to her auto and homeowners carriers.
Each has denied the claim, saying the other policy should respond. Who’s right?

Video

Cover Story
What’s Keeping LTCi from Achieving its Full Potential?

If you ask most people heading out the door if they would grab an umbrella with a 40% chance of rain, the answer would probably be yes. So when it comes to Long-Term Care insurance (LTCi), why might many independent insurance agents tell you that getting their customers to purchase it is a difficult sale?

Chairman's Voice
Making Best Practices Work for You

Have you had your fill of platitudes and magic bullet solutions to your agency’s problems? Do you wish there was a source of accurate and credible information on what the top agencies are really doing that makes them successful?

Forms & Substance
Self-repairs, Insurable Interest, Domestic Employees
Profit and Overhead When Insureds Repair Their Own Damage; Insurable Interest in Personal Property; Covering Claims by Domestic Employees

On Branding
The Power of Personal Websites

Like The Who said: “Who are you…who who…who who?” So, how do people know you, and more importantly, how do you get known? How do you become “the insurance pro”? It’s called branding, and it starts with what you do when you meet someone.

On the Hill
Flood Insurance Battle Rages On

In late December 2011, President Barack Obama signed H.R. 2055, the “Consolidated Appropriations Act” (known as the mini-bus) into law, extending the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) until May 31, 2012. The NFIP would have otherwise expired a few hours later at midnight on Dec. 23.

Ace Insura
The Case of the Fragmented Figurine

Humpty Dumpty took a fall...and broke. The woman who dropped the figurine—owned by her boss—asks Ace if her homeowners policy would cover the cost to replace the antique, which she was bringing to an antique show for an appraisal. The answer to her question, Ace says, depends on whether or not her boss required her to do the task.

Insurance Views
Put Some Stories in Your Playbook

When a football coach positions his defense, he spreads players over a wide area. Some line up to the left of the ball, and others line up to the right. Some take stances near the line of scrimmage, and others position themselves away from it. Many cluster near where plays most often come but a few scatter to areas of less action and more risk. Why is that?

Online Extras
Incentives, Filesharing, PAP vs. HO
Incentive Compensation for Non-Producers; Strategic Planning for Salespeople; Fixing $12 Haircuts; Filesharing; Loading and Unloading…PAP or HO?

State News

Industry News

Association News

Big “I” Markets
Big “I” Markets Experiences Another Record-Breaking Year

For the third time in as many years, Big "I" Markets has experienced a record-breaking year. BIM thanks agents for their continued support, and appreciates the business and the opportunity to serve Big “I” members.

Legal Advocacy
Chubb’s New Producer Agreement Reviewed

IIABA has completed its review of the new Chubb Producer Agreement [Form 21-10 0392 (Ed. 3-87)]. Like all IIABA appointment contract reviews, comments focus on terms relating to the insurance industry and are intended to support members’ understanding of the contract appointment terms that lay the foundation for their relationships with carriers whose policies they sell.

Big “I” Employee Benefits
Crump Life Insurance Services Webinar Offered
How can agents help add to their bottom line without adding to their expenses in 2012? Take advantage of IIABA’s relationship with Crump Life Insurance Services.

Education
Learn More About Insuring Loss of Customer Information

Many businesses have extremely valuable information in electronic form. If insureds have access to the information of others on their or a customer's premises, how can it be insured from loss, and in particular, theft? Read on for details about a Feb. 8 webinar, when industry experts will answer this and other questions on cyber risk exposures.

Trusted Choice®
Application Available for Award Recognizing Agency Volunteerism

Dan Fulwider was the government affairs coordinator and membership liaison for the Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa, and a supporter of Trusted Choice®. But beyond this, Fulwider, who passed away in 2009 after a valiant fight with cancer, was dedicated to his community and the causes he believed in.

Trusted Choice®
Your “Likes” Granted Wishes: Jeremiah’s Wish

Two-and-a-half-year-old Jeremiah is one of 11 children whose wishes came true with a $171,590-donation from last summer’s Trusted Choice® campaign with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to help provide hope, strength and joy.

Young Agents
Scholarships Available for Legislative Conference & Convention

The Big "I" Legislative Conference & Convention is a vital industry event to educate legislators on issues important to the independent agency system. Young agents are the future of the industry, and it’s important they are involved in the legislative process.

Big “I” Markets
Habitational Webinars Offered Online

To make sure habitational clients have the best coverage, consider comparing their current coverage with what Big “I” Markets partner MiddleOak has to offer. Read on for more information about MiddleOak services.

Education
Have We Got a Guru for You?

The quality of any school is measured by its faculty, and the Big “I” Virtual University excels in that regard. Behind the vast resources of the VU is a highly-credentialed team of industry experts who could challenge any bricks-and-mortar institution.

Tech Updates
Finding Opportunity in Change

These days, several major transitions are occurring simultaneously to create both opportunities and challenges for independent agencies. As a result, the attributes of agency managers of the future will likely have to evolve to succeed in this changed world.

On the Hill
Big “I” Political Action Committee Closes 2011 Books

InsurPac, the Big “I” political action committee (PAC), raised a total of $899,205.36 during the 2011 calendar year. A total of 3,965 agents came together to support InsurPac with contributions ranging from $5 to $5,000.

Tech Updates
Protecting Main Street Against Emerging Cyber Threats

Threats to businesses' data come from a variety of sources—a random hack, disgruntled former or current employee, angry competitor or someone else. Worse, if the crime results in a breach of private consumer data, state law may impose significant fines that could devastate a company’s bottom line. But insurance agents can help businesses cope with cyber liability.

L-H Leads
Take a New Approach to 2012 Goals
“Out with the old, in the new.” It’s a familiar refrain at this time of year. With the advent of another year comes the opportunity to set resolutions for the coming 12 months.

P-C Trends
Weathering the Storm

Blizzards, ice and freezing temperatures are among winter hazards that can lead to woes for home and business owners. Independent agents from snow-prone areas across the country have shared some tips that agents can provide clients to avoid cold weather losses.

Recently Modified

HomeCurrently selected

All Site Content

Trusted Choice®

Application Available for Award Recognizing Agency Volunteerism

Agencies have until March 1 to apply for Dan Fulwider Community Service Award.

In recognition of his passion and spirit for contributing to his community, Trusted Choice has established the Dan Fulwider Award for Community Involvement. The annual award recognizes an agency’s volunteerism, and $2,500 is donated to a charity of the winning agency’s choice.

To be considered for the award, click here for guidelines and the application, which is due March 1, 2012. The award will be presented at the 2012 IIABA National Legislative Conference & Convention held April 25 to April 27 at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C.

In addition to applying for the award, agents may also nominate another agency and share this information with others.

false,false,1

About Us \| Contact					Top of Page
CATEGORIES			SOCIAL	MAGAZINE	LINKS
Life Health	What Works	Ace Insura	Twitter	Current Issue	Big "I"
IA Magazine - all rights reserved				About Us \| Contact \| Advertise \| Privacy Policy \| Terms of Use
Copyright © 2012 Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this site may be reproduced in any manner without the prior written consent of IIABA.