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T H U R S D A Y , A P R I L 1 9 , 2 0 0 7
Industry News
TRUSTED CHOICE®
“Life Changes” Commercial Wins Film Award
The Trusted Choice® branding message is getting noticed---this time by a panel of film professionals. The latest Trusted Choice® commercial, “Life Changes,” has won an Aurora Award for excellence, taking home the 2007 Gold Award in the insurance category.
“We’re pleased that Trusted Choice® marketing efforts are being recognized with this honor,” says Trusted Choice® Executive Director Dave Evans. “The ‘Life Changes’ spot focuses on the value that Trusted Choice® agents bring to their customers through life’s many stages---and we’re glad that message is resonating with consumers as well as film professionals.”
The Aurora Awards is an international competition that recognizes excellence in the film and video industries, specifically targeting commercials. Past winners in the insurance category include GEICO. Entries come from across the United States and abroad, including Russia, Denmark, Hong Kong, Germany, Australia and Mexico. Panels of working film and video professionals judge the entries in major cities across the country. Entries are judged on a fixed scale on creativity, message effectiveness and technical excellence.
“The Trusted Choice® brand transcends advertising. It’s about experience, excellence, customer service and value. However, we are obviously very pleased the Aurora judges agreed that the Trusted Choice® message of choice of companies, customized policies and advocacy support was conveyed effectively,” says Big “I” CEO Robert Rusbuldt. “With our brand recognition growing every day, this award is one more signal that the brand is making an impact with consumers.”
Don’t Miss the “Experience”
Will you be in Washington, D.C., next week for the Big “I” National Legislative Conference & Convention? If so, make sure to stop by the Trusted Choice® Experience in the convention exhibit hall on April 26 and 27. This special area will showcase Trusted Choice® and its company partners.
So far, there will be 12 booths representing 20 brand program company partners. Company partners exhibiting in the Trusted Choice® Experience include: Allied Insurance, Encompass Insurance, Harleysville Insurance, Hartford Steam Boiler, InsurBanc, Kemper Auto and Home, Liberty Mutual Agency Markets (representing America First Insurance, Colorado Insurance, GoAmerica Auto Insurance, Golden Eagle Insurance, Hawkeye-Security Insurance, Indiana Insurance Company, Liberty Northwest, Montgomery Insurance, and Peerless Insurance), Markel Insurance, MetLife Auto & Home, Ohio Casualty Group, Safeco Insurance and Selective Insurance.
Trusted Choice® also will have a prominent role in this special area. The Experience will be an exciting opportunity for agents and company partners to discuss their shared support for the Trusted Choice® brand movement, explore possible business relationships with these company partners and to learn about the new products offered by these companies. Swing by the Trusted Choice® Experience to say hello and thank these valued company partners for their support of the brand movement.
The Experience will be hard to miss---it will be located in the front of the exhibit hall near the entrance. Convention exhibit hall hours are 6 to 8 p.m. April 26 (for the opening night party); and from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. April 27.
Click here to view the entire schedule of events for the Big “I” National Legislative Conference & Convention. Those who haven’t do so already, please complete and submit your registration form for the Big “I” National Legislative Conference & Convention as soon as possible. To register online, click here.
For more information, contact Jenner Gohr at 800- 221-7917; jenner.gohr@iiaba.net.
LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE & CONVENTION
MetLife Auto & Home Presents 'Add Life' to Your Agency
Join MetLife Auto & Home's Independent Agent Organization as they discuss how to introduce and/or increase the sale of life insurance from an agency's personal lines customers during the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention. Learn about the company’s unique riders, such as a guaranteed option to purchase long-term care insurance, that offer agents the chance to sell life insurance quickly and easily. The event will be held April 27 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the lobby-level, Virginia BC suite of the Wardman Park Marriott Hotel. Let MetLife help introduce another revenue stream into the agency that will help keep the right balance of product offerings to ensure the agency's continuous success. For more information, contact Christine Muñoz at 800-848-4401; christine.munoz@iiaba.net.
InVEST
Don’t Miss the InVEST Silent Auction
Don’t miss your chance to support the next generation of industry professionals. Participate in the InVEST Silent Auction and support the program’s annual scholarships awarded to graduates of InVEST who are 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. This exciting and well-attended insurance industry event will take place April 25-27 at the Marriott Wardman Park hotel in Washington, D.C.
A 501(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 offers insurance agencies, brokers and carriers a diverse and talented group of entry-level recruits.
Play an important roll in the future of InVEST’s brightest students by participating in the 2007 Silent Auction. Thank you in advance for your support of InVEST.
For more information, click here or contact Sandra Skipper at 703-706-5437; sandra.skipper@iiaba.net.
YOUNG AGENTS
YAC Awards Submission Request
The Big “I” National Young Agents Committee is seeking submissions for the 2007 YAC awards in the following categories: membership development, state committee project, communications, Young Agents meeting and political involvement. Outstanding Young Agents Committee of the Year and first runner-up honors also will be awarded. Participating in the National YAC awards program demonstrates the commitment state young agents and brokers committees have towards perpetuating the independent agency system and solidifies their presence as the driving force behind its future. The 2007 YAC awards will be presented at the 2007 Young Agent Leadership Institute being held in conjunction with the National Board of State Directors meeting scheduled for Sept. 28-30 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, Calif.
Entries must be postmarked by July 1. Visit www.independentagent.com and click “Young Agents” and then “Tools” to download the 2007 YAC Awards criteria. Direct questions to Katie Cosgrove at 800-221-7917; katie.cosgrove@iiaba.net.
BIG "I" MARKETSSM
Real Estate E&O Questions Answered
The following are some common coverage questions real estate agents ask about errors & omissions insurance. Agents should be familiar with them so they are ready to discuss the coverage.
Q. What is the extended reporting period option?
A. Extended reporting period means the 12-month, 24-month, 36-month or unlimited time periods as specified in the extended reporting period’s endorsement.
Q. Who is protected under the Travelers Real Estate Agent E&O agreement?
A. 1. Individual: Any individual shown in the introduction as a named insured and as an individual, and the individual’s spouse are covered only for real estate professional services of the business for which the insured is a sole owner.
2. Partnership: If the named insured is shown in the introduction as a named insured and a partnership, they are protected. The partners and their spouses are also protected.
3. Limited Liability Company: If the named insured is shown in the introduction as a named insured and a limited liability company, they are protected. The members and managers are also protected persons only for real estate professional services of the firm.
Q. What about pollution?
A. Losses resulting from a real estate agent’s or broker’s failure to advise buyers or sellers of property of the existence of pollution at the property are covered.
Q. What is Fair Housing coverage?
A. Fair Housing (also known as discrimination coverage) is provided for both defense and indemnity of claims that agents are legally obligated to pay due to violations of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, the Fair Housing Amendment Act of 1988 or any similar state or local law or ordinance.
Need a market to cover real estate agents? Turn to www.bigimarkets.com to access real estate E&O.
EDUCATION
ACSR Scholarships Available
IIABA, in close cooperation with the National Association of Insurance Women International (NAIW), has established a scholarship program to further promote and assist insurance agents and brokers’ commitment to excellence.
During NAIW’s upcoming annual convention in June, the Big "I" and NAIW will award the following scholarships toward IIABA’s Accredited Customer Service Representative Designation (ACSR): One full scholarship to take all classes required to earn the ACSR personal, commercial or life-health designation; and three scholarships to take one ACSR personal, commercial or life-health class.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with NAIW to offer their members and our own association members the opportunity to continue their education and gain valuable technical and professional training," says Madelyn Flannagan, Big "I" vice president of education and research. "The ACSR Designation is an important one—it promotes and recognizes the professionalism of customer service personnel in the insurance industry."
Scholarship recipients will gain critical professional development skills, improve their customer service tactics, retain accounts and reduce their agencies’ E&O exposure. Applicants must be current and active members of the NAIW in good standing, work full-time at a Big "I" member agency and have a tenure of at least one year in the insurance industry. To obtain an application, which must be postmarked by April 30, click here.
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