“Ask an Expert”—for Free

During the past few years, my wife Mary and I have been traveling around the country visiting with state boards and executives. In just about every state we’ve visited, the issue of attracting new members and retaining existing ones has been an issue. It’s tough out there. There is a lot of clustering, merging and retiring going on, and that is a cause for concern with our membership. On top of that, we have a weak economy causing our members to question their investment in association membership. What are they getting for their dues and is it an area they can cut? I say no, and our Virtual University (VU) is one of the main reasons.

For my money, the VU alone is reason enough to pay your dues. The VU is only available to IIABA members—paying your dues gives you access to the leading technical insurance and agency management information source in the insurance industry, developed exclusively for agents. Here you’ll find answers to questions concerning coverages, sample ISO forms, business practice assistance, coverage checklists, charts and white papers. It’s free, and just a few clicks away.

But the best part of the VU is the “Ask an Expert” service. Use this service once and you will justify the expense of your dues. How many of our small agencies can afford a full-time staff member who is one of the best insurance coverage gurus in the country? Wouldn’t it be nice, to quote the Beach Boys, if you had an agency management consultant on staff? Someone who could give you advice on just about any question you might have managing an agency? How about a computer geek who knows the insurance industry? An HR consultant? What if I told you that these resources were a mouse click away…and did I mention that it’s 100% free to IIABA member agencies?

Well, that’s what I’m telling you. If you haven’t used the Virtual University’s “Ask an Expert” service, you’re missing out on a lot of expertise that can improve your agency operations, sales and service.

When the Virtual University staff receives your question, they usually forward to anywhere from three to a dozen of the consultants who serve as its faculty. These aren’t just any consultants, but dozens of industry experts who are waiting for questions from our members. For example, if it’s a question on the CGL, the VU has a group of volunteer faculty members with expertise in that area. If it’s a question on technology, or an HR question, it will be forwarded on to faculty who have expertise in the appropriate area. This is a specialized service provided for our members only.

Once a question is proposed, each faculty member responds with his or her opinion or advice back to IIABA. The opinions are then compiled and returned back to you. More than 98% of all questions are answered within 72 hours and over half are answered within 24 hours—some even in hours or minutes.

Since its inception, the Virtual University’s “Ask an Expert” service has answered thousands of questions from agents around the country. Many of these questions involved claims disputes that, with analysis and feedback from VU faculty, were quickly resolved. The “Ask an Expert” service can make you a better agent. It can help you be more professional and help you do a better job for your customers. In fact, just recently a national carrier told me that if the VU faculty questioned something the company was doing, it would reexamine its practices. What a service! And, it’s free with your membership.

IIABA’s Virtual University is quickly becoming the industry website for quick, pertinent and practical information that is valuable to agents, and it’s just another example of the value-added benefit of being a state and national member agency. If you’re questioning what your dues are worth, check it out. Visit the Virtual University today at www.iiaba.net/VU.

And while you’re at it, be sure to subscribe to the VU’s free biweekly email newsletter, “The VUpoint.” Every other Friday, you’ll receive a newsletter with articles on personal lines, commercial lines, agency management, sales, customer service and technology. Just click on the “Newsletter” tab in the upper left hand corner of www.iiaba.net/VU.

—Michael Donohoe, Big “I” Chairman