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Survey Finds Confusion About Business Interruption Insurance |  Junior Golf Classic Bears Trusted Choice® Name |  NLC Media Coverage Continues |  The Ultimate Producer Challenge |  Hurricane Preparedness Week Begins |  36 Classes of MPL Available |  2005 Young Agents Sales & Leadership Conference |  Industry News

T R U S T E D   C H O I C E ®
Survey Finds Confusion About Business Interruption Insurance

As part of Trusted Choice® Month promotional activities, Wednesday marked the beginning of a major public relations outreach campaign to national media that will help increase consumer awareness of the brand and its participating agencies.

The PR campaign centers on a new national survey conducted by Trusted Choice® that finds many U.S. small business owners are either facing a major gap in their insurance coverage or do not fully understand the coverage they have. The gap and misunderstanding focuses on business-interruption insurance.

"Three out of four respondents to the survey either don’t have business-interruption insurance or don’t know what it is or when it applies, if they do have it," Trusted Choice® spokesperson Madelyn Flannagan says. "In the aftermath of a disaster, how do they—and their employees—plan on operating the business without income for what could be many months? Business-interruption insurance provides the resources that allow them to move, rebuild and minimize the impact on their business."

The survey focuses on an underinsured but significant portion of the small business market. Agents and brokers can round out commercial accounts by raising awareness of business-interruption insurance and explaining its value to business owners. Agents should take the opportunity at renewal and with new policyholders to explain the value of business-interruption insurance. This coverage not only protects against catastrophes, but gives employees, banks, vendors and customers more confidence in a firm’s stability.

Standard small-business insurance—known as business owners’ policies, or BOPs—cover loss of income and certain extra expenses for 12 months. BOPs often provide 60 days of coverage for ordinary payroll. BOP eligibility typically is based on the type of business, size of building, and/or amount of revenue; and eligibility varies from one insurer to another, but more than half of all commercial risks are eligible. Agents should consult with their small-business customers to ensure they have the package they want to match their situation.

A drop-in release—customizable for local use—and a summary sheet on business-interruption insurance will be sent to all Trusted Choice® agencies on Monday. You can use these materials to garner publicity and increase local consumer awareness of your Trusted Choice® agency. For more information, contact Jeff Myers at 800-221-7917; jeff.myers@iiaba.net.  T O P

Junior Golf Classic Bears Trusted Choice® Name

One of the nation’s premier junior golf events takes on a new name this year as Indiana gears up to host the 37th edition of the newly minted Trusted Choice® Big "I" Junior Classic.

The tournament is co-presented by the Tiger Woods Foundation, and Allied Insurance is the premier Host Committee sponsor for this year’s championships.

The event’s new name recognizes the more than 4,500 Trusted Choice® agencies across the country. These agencies provide the characteristics consumers say they want in an insurance counselor—choice of companies, customized coverages and advocacy support.

"We are thrilled to lend our name to this terrific junior golf event, which gives young golfers a chance to play in a high-level national tournament against quality competition from all across America," says Ronald A. Smith, CPCU, Trusted Choice® Board chairman and president of Smith, Sawyer & Smith Inc., a Rochester, Ind.-based independent agency. "This high-caliber event is terrific for the kids and at the same time is a great way to get the Trusted Choice® name and message in front of consumers.

"Consumers are responding positively to the Trusted Choice® message of choice, customization and advocacy," Smith continues. "We see this partnership as another way to touch consumers with our important message."

Formerly the Independent Insurance Agent Junior Classic, the national finals tournament will feature fields of 108 boys and 54 girls, ages 13-18, from all over America who are currently qualifying through local- and state-level tournaments. The national finals will take place July 31 through Aug. 4 at the renowned Kampen Course of the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette.

The annual event features many of the nation’s leading teen golfers; Tiger Woods twice won the event in the 1990s, and his niece, Cheyenne Woods of Phoenix, is among the players who have committed to play at this year’s classic. Also playing will be Kevin Tway of Edmond, Okla., son of PGA golfer Bob Tway and a former Big "I" tournament champion. Both Cheyenne Woods and Kevin Tway finished in the top five in their respective divisions at last year’s tournament at Dornick Hills Country Club in Ardmore, Okla., and earned exemptions into the 2005 tournament fields.  T O P

N A T I O N A L   L E G I S L A T I V E   C O N F E R E N C E
Media Coverage Continues

The media coverage from the 2005 Legislative Conference keeps coming. May 12’s issue of The Hill, D.C.’s premier Congressional insider paper, published a front-page story about the conference. "Lobby, fundraise, and network" garnered attention all over Capitol Hill in the newspaper read religiously by members of Congress, their staffs and all Hill movers and shakers.

The article discusses the influence of the Big "I," highlighting the association’s grassroots lobbying power, saying that "independent insurance agents have one of the longest running and largest legislative gatherings in Washington."

Writer Josephine Hearn discussed the importance of President Bush’s attendance and commented that he is the 4th sitting president to address the Big "I" Legislative Conference—a feat not many associations can tout. The story quoted a White House advance staff member as saying this was "one of our smoothest events ever."

Hearn also covered the importance of IIABA’s political action committee, InsurPAC, noting Congressman Patrick McHenry’s (R-NC) comment that "Your PAC does it right. You guys say, ‘If you’re with us, we’re with you.’…It allows your influential leaders to maintain their influence."

This article adds to the unprecedented media coverage the Big "I" received from the National Legislative Conference. A detailed story focusing on the biggest NLC conference yet provides invaluable support to our Capitol Hill lobbying team, serving as a third-party endorsement of the influence of the Big "I."

The National Legislative Conference generated a huge amount of free media for Trusted Choice® and the Big "I." Both logos were seen by millions of television viewers and newspaper readers across the country and the world, providing remarkable exposure for independent agents and brokers and Trusted Choice® member agencies. The Big "I" communications team has tallied close to 10 million in total circulation impressions from more than 70 newspapers across the country. For more information, contact Emily Crane at 800-221-7917; emily.crane@iiaba.net.  T O P

B I G   " I "   C O N V E N T I O N
Are You the Ultimate Producer?

Have you discovered the best mix of personality, salesmanship and technical expertise to write just about any piece of business that you want? If you meet all the eligibility criteria, you could be chosen to compete in "The Ultimate Producer Challenge" at the 2005 Big "I" Convention in New York City on Sept. 12.

The Challenge will include 20 producers along with insurance sales expert Roger Sitkins for a day of competition, networking, and fun to find out who really is the "The Ultimate Producer."

The producers chosen to participate in the Challenge will go through a series of group and individual sales exercises and tests on Sept. 12, 2005 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. During the Challenge, producers will be eliminated from the competition based upon their performance, as determined by the Challenge judges. The Ultimate Producer selected from the Challenge will be announced during the Convention’s closing General Session on Sept. 12. Are you "The Ultimate Producer"?   Click here to apply! For more information, contact Madelyn Flannagan at madelyn.flannagan@iiaba.net. T O P

B I G   " I "   F L O O D   P R O G R A M
Hurricane Preparedness Week Begins

Experts predict that this year’s hurricane season will likely be as bad as 2004’s, which ended with 15 named storms (See this week’s lead story). This week is Hurricane Preparedness Week, which is being observed across the southeastern states. Recent studies have indicated that even residents living where last year’s hurricanes scored direct hits are unprepared for this year’s hurricane season. In the meantime, numerous local hardware and lumber stores are stocking disaster kits, batteries, first-aid supplies and other essentials. In Florida, Governor Bush is expected to sign legislation eliminating state tax on hurricane-related purchases.

Now is the time to make sure that customers who need flood insurance are covered. The Big "I" Flood Program offers excellent service, free ratings (online and off) and additional commission for business placed online through Big "I" Markets. Even if you’re completely new to flood insurance, we can show you the ropes. For a limited time, agents who rollover $5,000 or more in premiums to the Big "I" Flood program will receive a free Cabela’s rain jacket. For more information on how the Big "I" can help you "Think Flood," visit  www.independentagent.com/Flood.  T O P

B I G   " I "   M A R K E T S
36 Classes of MPL Available

The miscellaneous liability policy available on Big "I" Markets, issued by Philadelphia Insurance Company, covers more than 36 classes of professions. Sample professions include computer consultants, claims adjusters and mortgage bankers/brokers. A complete listing of eligible classes is available in the "Product Resources" section of Big "I" Markets. A key selling point for this product is that Philadelphia provides a loss-assistance hotline to aid policyholders. Customers may call the hotline to receive up to two hours of free legal consultation with knowledgeable attorneys on any matter that could potentially result in claim. For more information, log on here. Not yet registered for Big "I" Markets, the online market access program available exclusively to Big "I" members? Download a registration kit here.  T O P

Y O U N G   A G E N T S
2005 Young Agents Sales & Leadership Conference

The rising stars of the insurance industry will take over New York City at this year’s Young Agents Sales & Leadership Conference. The ultimate experience for the next generation of industry leaders, this event brings together young agents and brokers from across the country to network with peers and company partners, develop sales and leadership skills and learn about the latest industry trends and technology. Whether you’re new to the industry or already in a leadership role in your agency or association, this event benefits all young agents and brokers regardless of experience and helps create a solid foundation for long-term success. As an added benefit, when you register for the Sales & Leadership Conference, you are automatically registered for the Big "I" Convention at no additional cost. Being committed means being involved. Attend the New York Sales & Leadership Conference and gain invaluable career experience. Click here to register online and make hotel reservations. For more information, contact Leslie Mularski at 703- 706-5459; leslie.mularski@iiaba.net.  T O P