The Strength is in the Pack
By: David Daniel
Independent agents are some of the most fiercely independent business people in the country. Agencies come in different sizes and structures, and they have various geographical specializations, company representations, marketing strategies and ways to serve their customers. Agency principals are as different as their agencies. Different management styles and personalities make for an interesting mix. Agents want to run their business their way, and there are many different roads to success. With all of these differences, why would all of these totally independent, competitive business owners join an association such as the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America? What is the value of an association that drives these people to join?
As Rudyard Kipling wrote, “The strength of the wolf is the pack.” There truly is strength in numbers. The beauty of associations is that, collectively, we can accomplish so much that we couldn’t hope to accomplish individually. The Big “I” is an excellent example of the value of an association.
Our association represents 22,500 independent agency members and 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees. What’s the value for these members? Here’s some of the value the Big “I” provides:
• Advocacy. The Big “I” advocates for its members in Congress, the White House, and many other organizations. The association advocates with carriers and in the legal arena. Insurance company/agency appointment contracts are reviewed on behalf of agents. Our advocacy in Washington, D.C. is second to none, not just in the insurance industry, but in any industry. Our lobbyists are constantly rated as the best in Washington by publications such as Fortune magazine, National Journal, Roll Call and The Hill.
• Agents Errors & Omissions Program. The largest E&O program for independent agents in the nation is administered by the Big “I”.
• Virtual University. A wonderful online resource center for members, the VU includes a research library, online education and “Ask an Expert” service.
• Trusted Choice®. Our national consumer brand co-brands with individual agency brands and is designed to attract customers to member agencies. It includes an agency online locater, the only written pledge of performance for agents and brokers and national advertising. Trusted Choice® membership has grown to nearly11,000 agency locations and 56 insurance company partners.
• Agent Development Programs. The Big “I” Young Agents, InVEST and Diversity programs are all designed to improve agencies and the independent agency system.
• Agents Council for Technology (ACT). This partnership of agents, companies and vendors works to improve the insurance industry’s workflow systems to make member agencies more productive and profitable through technology.
• Independent Agent magazine. Every Big “I” member receives this monthly magazine which includes insightful articles and information.
• Insurance News & Views. If you don’t receive it already, sign up for this weekly electronic publication that includes articles about legislative and legal developments, market trends, company issues and other timely information.
• Media and Communications. The Big “I” promotes the independent agency system on national television, radio and in national print publications.
• InsurPac and Grassroots. The Big “I” has the largest property casualty PAC in the nation. The strength of the Big “I” in government affairs is truly in its PAC, along with its grassroots and incomparable staff.
• Big “I” Markets. Member agencies have a host of insurance products to sell, including flood insurance and personal umbrella products, that the association provides through the Big “I” Markets program.
• Government Affairs. This area illustrates the power of the pack. Individual members desperately need organized representation on major government affairs issues which affect their pocketbooks and their way of doing business. If agents did not band together, we could find ourselves totally out of the health insurance industry, out of the flood and crop insurance sales process and regulated by federal bureaucrats. The Big “I” continues to work tirelessly on these and many other issues on behalf of its members.
Looking to the future, the Big “I” is actively studying ways to connect its members with a growing number of consumers who want to research and even purchase their personal lines insurance online. Putting professional agents into that arena would add value to the customers, and put our members in the ballgame for a new set of customers.
The strength of numbers was realized back in 1896 when independent agents banded together in local and state associations. The states then banded together to form what has ultimately become the largest and most powerful association of independent agents that today we call the Big “I”, represented by the eagle atop the Big “I” logo. The strength of the wolf is truly in the pack, and it turns out the same is true for eagles.
As Rudyard Kipling wrote, “The strength of the wolf is the pack.” There truly is strength in numbers. The beauty of associations is that, collectively, we can accomplish so much that we couldn’t hope to accomplish individually. The Big “I” is an excellent example of the value of an association.
Our association represents 22,500 independent agency members and 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees. What’s the value for these members? Here’s some of the value the Big “I” provides:
• Advocacy. The Big “I” advocates for its members in Congress, the White House, and many other organizations. The association advocates with carriers and in the legal arena. Insurance company/agency appointment contracts are reviewed on behalf of agents. Our advocacy in Washington, D.C. is second to none, not just in the insurance industry, but in any industry. Our lobbyists are constantly rated as the best in Washington by publications such as Fortune magazine, National Journal, Roll Call and The Hill.
• Agents Errors & Omissions Program. The largest E&O program for independent agents in the nation is administered by the Big “I”.
• Virtual University. A wonderful online resource center for members, the VU includes a research library, online education and “Ask an Expert” service.
• Trusted Choice®. Our national consumer brand co-brands with individual agency brands and is designed to attract customers to member agencies. It includes an agency online locater, the only written pledge of performance for agents and brokers and national advertising. Trusted Choice® membership has grown to nearly11,000 agency locations and 56 insurance company partners.
• Agent Development Programs. The Big “I” Young Agents, InVEST and Diversity programs are all designed to improve agencies and the independent agency system.
• Agents Council for Technology (ACT). This partnership of agents, companies and vendors works to improve the insurance industry’s workflow systems to make member agencies more productive and profitable through technology.
• Independent Agent magazine. Every Big “I” member receives this monthly magazine which includes insightful articles and information.
• Insurance News & Views. If you don’t receive it already, sign up for this weekly electronic publication that includes articles about legislative and legal developments, market trends, company issues and other timely information.
• Media and Communications. The Big “I” promotes the independent agency system on national television, radio and in national print publications.
• InsurPac and Grassroots. The Big “I” has the largest property casualty PAC in the nation. The strength of the Big “I” in government affairs is truly in its PAC, along with its grassroots and incomparable staff.
• Big “I” Markets. Member agencies have a host of insurance products to sell, including flood insurance and personal umbrella products, that the association provides through the Big “I” Markets program.
• Government Affairs. This area illustrates the power of the pack. Individual members desperately need organized representation on major government affairs issues which affect their pocketbooks and their way of doing business. If agents did not band together, we could find ourselves totally out of the health insurance industry, out of the flood and crop insurance sales process and regulated by federal bureaucrats. The Big “I” continues to work tirelessly on these and many other issues on behalf of its members.
Looking to the future, the Big “I” is actively studying ways to connect its members with a growing number of consumers who want to research and even purchase their personal lines insurance online. Putting professional agents into that arena would add value to the customers, and put our members in the ballgame for a new set of customers.
The strength of numbers was realized back in 1896 when independent agents banded together in local and state associations. The states then banded together to form what has ultimately become the largest and most powerful association of independent agents that today we call the Big “I”, represented by the eagle atop the Big “I” logo. The strength of the wolf is truly in the pack, and it turns out the same is true for eagles.
—David Daniel, Chairman
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