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T H U R S D A Y , D E C E M B E R 1 1 , 2 0 0 8 Industry News Trusted Choice®
Big “I” Encourages Donations to Trusted Choice® Disaster Relief Fund
Hurricane season is finally over, but the cleanup and recovery efforts from this year’s storms continue. The Big “I” stands ready to meet disaster assistance needs through the Trusted Choice® Disaster Relief Fund.
“This fund is a great way to show our ongoing support as an industry for victims of disasters and to assist independent agents, industry colleagues and others during their greatest time of need,” says Dave Evans, executive director of Trusted Choice®. “As 2008 comes to a close, let’s not forget those who lost their homes and businesses in one of the most destructive hurricane seasons in history.” The Trusted Choice® Disaster Relief Fund was established by the Big “I” Educational Foundation to assist those who have suffered losses due to natural or man-made disasters. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) entity and all contributions are tax deductible.
“A permanent relief fund allows us to financially assist victims when and where a disaster strikes, rather than raising the funds after the fact when each second on the clock is so precious,” says Bob Rusbuldt, president & CEO of the Big “I”. “The Trusted Choice® Disaster Relief Fund has distributed thousands of dollars across the country in some of the most hard-hit areas.”
The fund makes cash grants available to those in the insurance industry, including Big “I” members and their agency staffs, to pay for immediate or ongoing financial needs when other funding sources (such as insurance and other grants) are not available. These grants fill the gap until other funding sources can be accessed and provide insurance agents with supplies and resources to aid victims and family members in their communities.
To make a tax-deductible contribution to the fund or to apply for a grant, go to www.independentagent.com and click on “About Us” and “Trusted Choice® Disaster Relief Fund.” Or send a check payable to the “Trusted Choice® Disaster Relief Fund” to:
Attn: Lillian Carter
Trusted Choice® Disaster Relief Fund
127 S. Peyton St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
Trusted Choice®
Trusted Choice® Ad Airs on Food Network
A new Trusted Choice® advertisement focusing on the “Pledge of Performance” and featuring agents across the country is currently airing on the Food Network. The media buy corresponds with the network’s “Season’s Eatings” programming and will continue through Dec. 20.
“Trusted Choice® agents are the only insurance agents that agree to adhere to a pledge like ours,” says Robert Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO.“This ad is designed to showcase the Trusted Choice® commitment to consumers across the country on one of the most popular cable channels.”
To view the ad and read the Trusted Choice® Pledge of Performance, visit www.TrustedChoice.com. The commercial features six Trusted Choice® agents from around the country reciting tenets of the pledge. Media buys for this ad also include the Travel Channel and the Weather Channel.
Trusted Choice®
New Trusted Choice® Consumer Article Available
Americans spend handsomely during the holidays. The U.S. Department of Commerce estimated that U.S. retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2007 topped $1 trillion, although the economic slump may reduce that number in 2008. The latest Trusted Choice® consumer article will help insurance agents and brokers suggest customers take stock of what they own – and how it’s insured – soon after they finish unwrapping their Christmas gifts. The article can be found in the Agents/Brokers section of www.TrustedChoice.com, under Public Relations Articles. Agencies may reproduce the article in any customer communications, such as a newsletter or Web site.
You will need your agency username and password to access these areas of the secured “Agents/Brokers” section of www.TrustedChoice.com. If you do not have this login information handy, send an e-mail to Trusted.Choice@iiaba.net requesting it. For more information, contact Jenner Gohr at 800-221-7917; jenner.gohr@iiaba.net.
Virtual University
How Does Your Professional Development Program Stack Up?
The Big “I”, in conjunction with the American Institute for CPCU/Insurance Institute of America, is conducting an industry survey to learn more about investment trends in the industry’s most important asset – its people. With the ever-increasing volatility of the insurance marketplace, professional development is more important than ever in attracting and retaining the best talent. This survey will reveal the state of training and development for insurance agencies. The results will be combined with a parallel study of insurers to create a comprehensive report on the industry. All participating agencies will receive a free copy of this valuable report.
By participating in this survey, you will learn how your agency compares to others by:
• state, region, and country
• size (both state and national)
• to the property-casualty industry in general Please note that all responses are confidential and results will be reported in aggregate. This report will provide averages, median and maximum and minimum statistics where relevant. The report will be distributed via e-mail approximately six to eight weeks after the study’s completion. Click here to provide your input and guarantee your copy of the free research report. For questions, contact Adam Carmichael at 610-644-2100; carmichael@cpcuiia.org or Madelyn Flannagan at 703-706-5379; madelyn.flannagan@iiaba.net.
Best Practices
Best Practices Agencies Revealed
Since 1993, the annual Best Practices Study has helped agency owners and managers understand how their business operations measure up to the top- performing agencies across the country. The Big “I” and Reagan Consulting congratulate the 2008 Best Practices Agencies for their continued success. The 2008 Best Practices Study Update demonstrates that although positive revenue growth was difficult to achieve, Best Practices agencies continued to invest in new production talent. The majority of those agencies with revenues of more than $2.5 million hired at least 1.5 new producers during the last fiscal year, with the largest agencies hiring an average of 9.4 new producers. The average starting salary across all the revenue categories ranged from $52,000 to $95,000. Agencies with revenues of more than $25 million tended to hire more experienced producers while those in the lower revenue categories tended to hire producers with less sales and/or insurance experience.
This year’s study indicates that even during a soft market and tough economic times, Best Practices Agencies are proactively taking steps to grow. Click here to review the 2008 Practices Agencies and click here to order the 2008 Best Practices Study Update. For more information, e-mail BestPractices@iiaba.net.
InVEST
Donate Auction Items to Benefit Student Scholarships
InVEST is calling on Big “I” members to support the next generation of the insurance industry workforce.
The InVEST Board of Directors is once again hosting the InVEST Silent Auction during the Big "I" Legislative Conference & Convention. This highly regarded insurance industry event will take place April 31- May 1, 2009 at Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Contribute an item to the InVEST Silent Auction and support the program’s annual scholarships awarded to InVest graduates. Graduates may pursue higher education with an emphasis on insurance or go straight from the classroom to a career by completing professional certifications in insurance.
As a contributor, you will be listed in our auction program distributed to more than 2,300 convention attendees, on the Big “I” and InVEST Web sites and on event signage. All of the proceeds generated from the auction are used to fund the scholarships awarded to InVEST students each year. Convention attendees will have the opportunity to bid on sporting event tickets, golf clubs, electronics, gadgets, trips and more. Items are donated by insurance carriers, agents and brokers, the Big “I” and its state affiliates, other professional organizations and individuals.
Last year, InVEST raised more than $60,000 for student scholarships, which was awarded to 52 students nationwide.
The deadline for InVEST Silent Auction donations is Feb. 13, 2009. InVEST staff can assist you in finding a creative and memorable item to grab attendees’ attention.
For more information, contact Jennifer Robinson, InVEST program manager, at 703-706-5437; jennifer.robinson@iiaba.net.
Young Agents
Calling All Young Agents
Calling all outstanding Young Agents Committees! Have you recently accomplished something you would like to share on the Big “I” National Young Agents Web site? We’re looking for stories about anything from a thriving event to a member of your Young Agents group who has become a valued leader. Your stories and successes will be shared on the Big “I” National Young Agents page, in the “Young Agents Spotlight” section, on the Young Agents Connection page and possibly in an upcoming issue of Insurance News & Views.
Visit www.independentagent.com and click on Young Agents to see where your story will be posted. Send your success story to Katie Cosgrove, manager of the National Young Agents program, at katie.cosgrove@iiaba.net.
Big I AdvantageSM
Big "I" Partners with FedEx
DHL has ceased domestic operations and the Big "I" DHL discount program has ended. The Big “I” has teamed with FedEx to help boost your bottom line. As a Big "I" member, you are eligible to receive valuable discounts of up to 26% on select FedEx shipping services. There are no costs and no minimum shipping requirements to take advantage of this great new member benefit.
Big "I" members can now save:
• Up to 26% on select FedEx Express® U.S. services
• Up to 20% on select FedEx Express® international services
• Up to 12% on select FedEx Ground® services
• Up to 10% on select FedEx Home Delivery® services Visit www.1800members.com/new/iiaba to start saving now. If you have additional questions, call 1-800-636-2377 to speak to a dedicated member representative.
Within seven to 10 business days of your enrollment, you should receive a welcome kit from FedEx containing detailed information about your shipping rates. Once you have enrolled in the FedEx savings program, your discounts will automatically be applied to your FedEx account number and you can enjoy these great savings every time you ship.
FedEx shipping discounts are off standard list rates and cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Shipping discounts are exclusive of any FedEx surcharges, premiums or special handling fees and are not available to package consolidators. Eligibility for discounts subject to FedEx credit approval. Eligible services are subject to change. Base discounts on FedEx Express® are 15-21%. An additional 5% discount is available for eligible FedEx Express® shipments when you ship online at fedex.com. Discounts are subject to change.
Big I AdvantageSM
Exclusive 50% Member Discount on Caliper
Caliper has a long product relationship with the Big “I” dating back to the early 1970s. To celebrate this relationship and recent successes, Caliper has agreed to provide Big “I” members with an exclusive 50% discount on its Caliper Profile service. The Caliper Profile is a hiring and screening service used by thousands of Big “I” members to ascertain the “fit” of prospective employees. Backed by 40 years of scientific data on successful personality traits within the insurance industry, members also use the profile to help structure an existing position to maximize an individual’s talents or team performance. At a price not seen since the program began at the Big “I”, Caliper encourages you to maximize your human assets. To obtain the 50% member-only discount, click here.
For questions, contact Caliper’s Agota Miskolczi at 609-524-1384; AMiskolczi@calipercorp.com, IIABA's Elif Wisecup at Elif.Wisecup@iiaba.net or Paul Buse at Paul.Buse@iiaba.net.
Big "I" Markets
Big “I” Markets Offers Non-Standard Homeowners Product
Did you know that Big "I" members may access a non-standard homeowners product through Big "I" Markets? Big “I” Markets wants to be your go-to market on accounts that you are unable to write in the standard market such as: corporate-owned properties, unprotected risks, risks with prior losses, cancellation for non-payment of premium, coastal exposures, rental and short-term rental properties and vacant dwellings.
Click here for a list of the non-standard homeowners markets as they appear on the Big “I” Markets product menu. To learn more about this product, log on to www.bigimarkets.com.
Big "I" Markets
Need Login Assistance?
If your agency has registered for Big “I” Markets but cannot log in to the system, it may be because you haven’t provided the required license information.
You can still use the Big “I” Markets e-profile online registration system to enter the license information. Click here to update your agency’s registration online. You will need to keep clicking “Next” or “Update” and remove the zeros from the banking information fields to access the user page. Click on “edit” to add license information for each user, and make sure the role of producer is listed for each person. Once you have edited all the user information, close the browser instead of clicking “next” or re-signing the agreement. You may also fax the licenses to the attention of Yolanda Smith at 703-995-4406. Remember that there is no cost to register for access to the hundreds of markets available through Big “I” Markets and there are no volume commitments. Log in or register today at www.bigimarkets.com. For questions, contact Yolanda Smith at 703-706-5433; Yolanda.Smith@iiaba.net.
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