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Industry News

TRUSTED CHOICE^®

Study Receives National Media Hits

With the Super Bowl just days away, consumers are learning about their liability as party hosts—and  how Trusted Choice^® agents can help them manage their risk.

Washington, D.C. Fox station affiliate WTTG-TV aired a story on the “Fox 5 Morning News” that featured Big “I” CEO Bob Rusbuldt discussing Trusted Choice's recent national survey on party hosting insurance issues. In addition, Sinclair Broadcasting distributed a nationwide feed this week to Sinclair's more than 30 local stations for use on their newscasts. In this piece, Rusbuldt discussed Trusted Choice's survey results and provides tips for safe parties.

These recent stories on the Trusted Choice^® survey cap a spate of broadcast media hits for the Big "I" on party host liability. Among the highlights: ABC News reported on the survey and the perils of party hosting for its national "Money Minute" feed to its network affiliates across the country. In addition, Big “I” Vice President for Research and Education, Madelyn Flannagan, was featured on CBS in Washington, D.C., where she discussed the findings, offered insurance advice and answered viewer call-in questions live for an hour during a morning TV newscast. More than 3.5 million people have seen these stories and others over the last few weeks. For more information on any of these stories, contact Sue Nester, IIABA Broadcast Media Director, 703-706-5448; susan.nester@iiaba.net.


IIABA NEWS

Independent Agency Makes List of Top Small Businesses

The Community Insurance Center, an independent insurance agency in Chicago, Ill., was named one of DiversityBusiness’s top 500 small businesses for 2006.

DiversityBusiness, a national multicultural business Web site, has ranked small businesses for seven years based on their revenue. Businesses on the list range in revenue size from $1 million to $2 billion. The Community Insurance Center ranks 484 on the list and boasts revenue of $14 million in sales, according to DiversityBusiness.

The center, headed by CEO Milton Mosses, was the only independent agency to make the list and it will be honored along with other businesses on the list in April at DiversityBusiness’s 7th Annual Multicultural Business Conference in Las Vegas.

To see DiversityBusiness’s entire list, click here.


LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE & CONVENTION

Register by Friday to Win PlayStation 3

You are invited to the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention—the premier industry event for independent agents—where you’ll join your peers to lobby on Capitol Hill, network with industry leaders and learn strategies to develop a more profitable agency in 2007.

Register early and be entered in a drawing for a new PlayStation 3 and two Apple iPods. Three registrants’ names will be randomly drawn for the prizes Feb. 2 at noon EST. The recipients of these items will be listed on the Big “I” Web site and will be contacted to coordinate delivery. Those registering after 12:01 p.m. EST on Feb. 2 will not be eligible for the drawing. Click here to event information or to register online.

The Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention will be held April 25-27 in Washington, D.C. The annual event offers agents an opportunity to experience advocacy, innovation and exhibits not available anywhere else.

Also check out two new videos on the event: “The Sights and Sounds of D.C.” and “Big‘I’ on the Hill.”


YOUNG AGENTS

Apply for a YAC Scholarship by March 1

At the Big "I" Legislative Conference & Convention in Washington, D.C., the National Young Agents Committee will host seminars geared specifically toward young agents, including a first-timers reception, the Young Agent Attendee & InsurPac Chairs Luncheon, a hospitality event and the President’s Panel Breakfast with Big "I" leadership.

The Big "I" National Young Agents Committee is offering each state association two $300 scholarships to assist young agents who have not previously attended a legislative conference in attending the 2007 Big "I" Legislative Conference & Convention. Scholarship funds will be paid to the order of the state association in May 2007. Interested young agents should return a completed application form to their state association by March 1 to be considered. It’s at the discretion of the state association to determine the recipients of these scholarships. Click here to download an application.

The $1,000 Maurice Herndon Scholarship will be presented to one young agent who has not attended a legislative conference in the past to help defray the costs of attending the conference, held April 25 through 27 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. The young agent recipient will receive his or her scholarship check in May 2007 after the event. To be eligible for the Herndon scholarship you must: be a Big “I” young agent member (age 40 or younger) who has not previously attended a conference, compose a 250-500 word essay describing why you should be considered for the scholarship, and submit your essay and completed application form by March 1. Click here for the application.

For more information, contact Katie Cosgrove at 800-221-7917; katie.cosgrove@iiaba.net.


BEST PRACTICES

Don’t Worry, Best Practices Guide can Help

If the following list describes your views, then don’t read further.  But, if not, please read on.

• You never plan to retire.
• You don’t have agency growth at the top of your priority list.
• You have never once worried about the future of your agency.
• You have never lost a top producer to your competition.
• You are positive that you are not overpaying your producers.
• You have a proven game plan for new producer development.
• You know that your producer contracts reflect the difference between independent contractor and employee producers.
• You are certain that your non-compete and non-piracy agreements will stand up in court.
• You are 100% confident that your attorney understands your business and the agency/producer relationship well enough to adequately prepare a fair, enforceable producer contract that fully protects your independent insurance agency.

If even one of these issues worry you, then manual “Top Producers: Discover, Train, Reward” is a must have for your agency. This Best Practices guide not only leads you through the steps to finding great producers, but also how to hire, train, compensate and manage them. This indispensable guide will add super sales power to your agency.

“Top Producers: Discover, Train, Reward” contains more than 160 pages of comprehensive, clear advice that will provide you with a roadmap to success. Included are numerous worksheets for setting goals, establishing proper compensation, determining sales potential, agency planning and tracking producer activities. You will also find an extensive "new producer knowledge roadmap" and three complete new producer training matrix (basic insurance, personal lines, commercial lines). As added bonuses, the guide includes the complete text of IIABA's "Guide to Producer Contracts" (a $29.95 value if purchased separately), a copy of the Best Practices Sales Potential Quick check and a detailed appendix on selection interview guidelines.

This guide will save principals thousands of dollars in lost time, effort, cash and wasted potential. Don't hire another producer without one. Click here to order today.


InVEST

Silent Auction Donation Deadline Feb. 15

Participate in the InVEST silent auction and support the program’s annual scholarships awarded to graduates of InVEST pursuing higher education with an emphasis on insurance. The InVEST board of directors will hold the 2007 InVEST silent auction during the Big "I" Legislative Conference & Convention. The InVEST Silent Auction will open at 6 p.m., April 26 and will close at 1 p.m., April 27. Keep an eye on bids---the InVEST Silent Auction is a popular event during Big “I” Legislative Conference and Convention.

Play an important roll in the future of InVEST’s brightest students by making a donation to the 2007 silent auction. Click here to access information regarding the auction including updates on the great auction items. Visit www.independentagent.com and click here to download a contribution form.

Don’t delay, the deadline for InVEST Silent Auction donations is Feb. 15. For more information, contact Sandra Skipper at 703-706-5437; sandra.skipper@iiaba.net.

A501(c)3 educational trust, InVEST introduces high school and community college students to insurance and the more than 350 diverse careers available within the industry, giving students a new outlook on the future. The program also offers insurance agencies, brokers and carriers a diverse and talented group of entry-level recruits.