Pride in the Profession—Now More Than Ever
By: Mike Miley
A year ago in my first Chairman’s Voice column, I asked myself: “Why did I get into this business and what does it mean to be an independent insurance agent?” Then I referred to a speech given by Dan Gibson, founder of our agency back in 1957, where he explained to his son what the business was all about. Having had the privilege of traveling to many state associations and meeting thousands of independent agents, I have witnessed the values and virtues of Dan Gibson’s speech validated by the commitment of independent insurance agents to serve their clients and communities.
During the past months I have written about industry data (I’m still waiting for that hard market), legislative challenges, demographic shifts, evolving consumer preferences, technological trends and other factors that independent insurance agents have had to contend with. I also had the opportunity to serve on the board of the World Federation of Insurance Intermediaries, which deals with international insurance regulators, and I now realize how truly we are connected to the global economy. We are indeed a resilient group. We are asked to do more and are receiving less compensation. We’re all so busy meeting our clients’ needs that it can be difficult to take the time to learn about the resources that are available to you. Whether it be the “Ask an Expert” feature of the Virtual University (VU), agency contract reviews, Big “I” Markets, Agents Council on Technology (ACT), InVEST, Trusted Choice® or starting next year, the Consumer Agent Portal (CAP), the odds are that some of your biggest obstacles can be overcome by using the information that is available through Big “I” resources. And, you can also take comfort that in your state capital and in our nation’s capital you have talented people persuasively conveying our message—but they do need your help in that effort.
As I have discussed previously, we need to focus on bringing younger people of all walks of life into our business. I have been impressed by the young agents that I have met and by the enthusiasm they have brought to our Young Agents groups around the country. Yet, we are an industry that is full of promise and most young people do not have an understanding of the contribution that we provide to millions of Americans. One way for us to help fill this knowledge gap is to use social networking, like Trusted Choice® recently did to add 17,159 likes to our Facebook page and provide the Make-A-Wish Foundation with a donation of $171,159. Has your agency invested in its website the way you have for your reception area? Online consumer data indicates that three-fourths of consumers start their search online but they prefer to work with a local agent. If you don’t have the time or the technological know-how to tackle this increasingly important marketing tool, assign it to someone in the agency who is interested in it and point them to ACT and Trusted Choice® resources (go to www.iiaba.net and just click on the headings) for “how-to” information and related considerations. Do not procrastinate. I urge you to embrace the Trusted Choice® brand to be a co-ingredient to your brand. Review the Pledge of Performance with your staff as well as the many ads, consumer articles and press release templates that can be customized to your agency.
Lastly, as I reflect on this past year and my many years of volunteering with the association, I can honestly say that I’ve gotten far more out of the experience than I’ve given. And my involvement could not have been possible without the help (and understanding) of my family and my associates at the Gibson Agency. I’m a small town guy from Indiana—and after heading out west for studies, football and fun (maybe not in that order)—I came back by choice. That choice was one that I’ve never regretted. Even though my year as chairman is coming to an end, it won’t end my commitment to help this industry that has provided so much to me. A year later—and hopefully wiser—I’m more enthusiastic about the prospects for independent insurance agents than I have ever been. In closing, and I said it in my first article and I will continue to say it, the people in this industry, both from the agency and company side, are some of the most honest, hard-working, caring people I know. It’s that concern for your clients and communities that you should be proud of. Never lose sight of that, even on your most challenging days. Be proud of who you are and what you do, and be proud to be a Trusted Choice® independent insurance agent.
–Mike Miley, Big “I” chairman
During the past months I have written about industry data (I’m still waiting for that hard market), legislative challenges, demographic shifts, evolving consumer preferences, technological trends and other factors that independent insurance agents have had to contend with. I also had the opportunity to serve on the board of the World Federation of Insurance Intermediaries, which deals with international insurance regulators, and I now realize how truly we are connected to the global economy. We are indeed a resilient group. We are asked to do more and are receiving less compensation. We’re all so busy meeting our clients’ needs that it can be difficult to take the time to learn about the resources that are available to you. Whether it be the “Ask an Expert” feature of the Virtual University (VU), agency contract reviews, Big “I” Markets, Agents Council on Technology (ACT), InVEST, Trusted Choice® or starting next year, the Consumer Agent Portal (CAP), the odds are that some of your biggest obstacles can be overcome by using the information that is available through Big “I” resources. And, you can also take comfort that in your state capital and in our nation’s capital you have talented people persuasively conveying our message—but they do need your help in that effort.
As I have discussed previously, we need to focus on bringing younger people of all walks of life into our business. I have been impressed by the young agents that I have met and by the enthusiasm they have brought to our Young Agents groups around the country. Yet, we are an industry that is full of promise and most young people do not have an understanding of the contribution that we provide to millions of Americans. One way for us to help fill this knowledge gap is to use social networking, like Trusted Choice® recently did to add 17,159 likes to our Facebook page and provide the Make-A-Wish Foundation with a donation of $171,159. Has your agency invested in its website the way you have for your reception area? Online consumer data indicates that three-fourths of consumers start their search online but they prefer to work with a local agent. If you don’t have the time or the technological know-how to tackle this increasingly important marketing tool, assign it to someone in the agency who is interested in it and point them to ACT and Trusted Choice® resources (go to www.iiaba.net and just click on the headings) for “how-to” information and related considerations. Do not procrastinate. I urge you to embrace the Trusted Choice® brand to be a co-ingredient to your brand. Review the Pledge of Performance with your staff as well as the many ads, consumer articles and press release templates that can be customized to your agency.
Lastly, as I reflect on this past year and my many years of volunteering with the association, I can honestly say that I’ve gotten far more out of the experience than I’ve given. And my involvement could not have been possible without the help (and understanding) of my family and my associates at the Gibson Agency. I’m a small town guy from Indiana—and after heading out west for studies, football and fun (maybe not in that order)—I came back by choice. That choice was one that I’ve never regretted. Even though my year as chairman is coming to an end, it won’t end my commitment to help this industry that has provided so much to me. A year later—and hopefully wiser—I’m more enthusiastic about the prospects for independent insurance agents than I have ever been. In closing, and I said it in my first article and I will continue to say it, the people in this industry, both from the agency and company side, are some of the most honest, hard-working, caring people I know. It’s that concern for your clients and communities that you should be proud of. Never lose sight of that, even on your most challenging days. Be proud of who you are and what you do, and be proud to be a Trusted Choice® independent insurance agent.
–Mike Miley, Big “I” chairman
This month’s issue
The August issue is out now!
