T H U R S D A Y ,   J U N E   2 9 ,   2 0 0 6

 Industry News

I I A B A   N E W S
National Offices Closed Monday, Tuesday

The Big "I" National offices will be closed Monday, July 3, and Tuesday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Be safe and have a nice weekend. IN&V is taking the week off next week, and will resume on Thursday, July 13.

Agency Universe Invitation on its Way
The Future One program, a partnership between more than 20 insurance carriers and the Big "I," is preparing to launch the next installment of the well-recognized and highly successful Agency Universe Study. The 2006 version of the study will be the best and most beneficial ever produced, and the Big "I" needs your assistance.

The Agency Universe Study provides agencies and carrier partners with the most comprehensive and authoritative information about the independent agency system. The broad-based survey, conducted every two years, studies a variety of important topics related to the independent agent and broker community. Every study examines common core elements, patterns and trends while taking a fresh look at an array of topics. The 2006 study will look at agencies’ involvement in networks and will delve in-depth into agency technology uses. The Response Center, an independent market research firm, will conduct the study to ensure the quality and confidentiality of the data. The survey reports only reveal the data in aggregate and no individual agency information is ever reported.

While the study has been highly successful in the past, we want to ensure that it continues to be useful and relevant to the industry. Accordingly, we encourage your active participation in this initiative and urge you to participate if invited. For more information about the survey, contact Madelyn Flannagan at 800-221-7917; madelyn.flannagan@iiaba.net.

B I G   “ I ”   F L O O D   P R O G R A M
It Can Flood Anywhere, Any Time

Record rains from a stalled tropical system are causing chaos in and around Washington, D.C., where mudslides, floods and power outages all but halted transportation, closed offices and forced residents to evacuate in some parts. The rain set a record at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Alexandria, Va., where 9.94 inches of rain had fallen since midnight Saturday and midnight Monday, according to The Washington Post. In Maryland, The Baltimore Sun reported that much of the state received one month’s worth of rain in one day. In parts of Fairfax, Va., water was 10 feet deep in the streets, covering parked cars and flooding basements with up to 8 feet of water containing raw sewage.

The federal government informed its approximately 200,000 personnel to take leave time if they were not able to get to work. The Internal Revenue Service headquarters, the U.S. Justice Department and the National Archives had to shut down due to flooding and electrical failures. The U.S. House of Representatives cancelled a vote because many members couldn’t get to the Capitol. A 140 year old tree toppled over on the White House lawn.

Floods can happen anywhere, at any time. You don’t need a hurricane to have a flood. While property owners should look to the hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005 as reminders that it is vital to protect their homes, all homeowners need to evaluate their risk—even if they aren’t on the coast. According to FEMA, approximately 25% of all flood damage occurs outside of the special flood hazard areas. In fact, in 2004, flood insurance claims in Pennsylvania were second only to Florida.

Remind your clients that now is the time to purchase flood insurance. Flood insurance policies take 30 days to take effect—storms only take minutes.

The Big "I" Flood Program has a new program structure. To learn more,  click here.

B E S T   P R A C T I C E S
How Can Your Agency Become the Best? 

Have you had your fill of platitudes and magic bullet solutions to your agency’s problems? Do you wish there was a source of accurate and credible information on what the top agencies are really doing that makes them successful? Would it help you to improve your agency revenues and profits if you could tap into the accumulated wisdom of 180 of the top agencies in the country, at least 30 of which are in your same revenue bracket? What if you had the ability to compare your results with theirs and establish realistic, attainable benchmarks for each operation in your agency? Do you think you just might be able to make enjoy making more money, have more success and generally have a better time in this business?

Good news: These resources already exist in the Best Practices   program, which includes a multitude of tools to address many agency management needs. The Big "I" and Reagan Consulting work together to find the most successful agencies, study their procedures and create tools that other agencies can utilize to learn and implement those procedures in their own operations.

In the Best Practices Study, 180 of the top agencies in the country (30 in each of six revenue categories) open their operations and financials. Through extensive questionnaires, interviews, analysis of financials and on-site visits, patterns emerge. Although all agencies have unique ways of operating and approaching their chosen marketplace, the research discovers definite "best practices" all successful agencies pursue.

These "best practices" findings are not hearsay, the latest management theory espoused by business writers or consultants or a carrier’s wish list. They are exactly what real agencies, who are recognized leaders, are doing to succeed where others are struggling. The agencies are all chosen for the study and represent the entire spectrum of revenue size, further legitimizing the findings. Other attempts at such studies are inherently subject to distortion in their findings due to either the limitations or randomness of their agency study group. Some studies, for example, are simple compilation of whoever happens to respond to a survey, or include only information obtained from a given consulting firm’s clients or from agencies representing a given carrier.

To guarantee the information and statistics are as fresh and accurate as possible, ongoing updates to the information from the original study are compiled annually, with a full new study completed every three years. The study findings form the foundation for all the IIABA Best Practices tools, whether seminar, publication or online resources. Click here to View the complete listing of available resources and get more information at the Best Practices Gateway. Click here to place an order.

Y O U N G   A G E N T S
Register Now for Leadership Institute

The 2006 Young Agents Leadership Institutewill take place Sept. 8 through 10 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. This exciting event features distinct breakout sessions focusing on membership development, communications and political involvement. Attendees will also gain insight into the latest technology trends, network with peers and Big "I" leaders, learn new strategies for agency management and develop valuable professional and personal contacts. The Young Agent Committee awards will also be announced. The Young Agent party will be held on Bourbon Street on Saturday, Sept. 9, with all the New Orleans flair. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. For more information, contact Katie Cosgrove at 800-221-7917; katie.cosgrove@iiaba.net.

T R U S T E D   C H O I C E®
Check out the Ads!

Who isn’t tuned to the weather this time of year? If you’re checking the beach forecast, planning your summer vacation or tracking a storm, don’t flip the channels during commercial time on The Weather Channel this August. Nationwide Trusted Choice® TV ads are already running on the FoxNews Channel and will soon appear on The Weather Channel. Ads will run through Aug. 27 on the following cable channels: FoxNews, June 19 through July 9; CNN and CNN Headline News, July 10 through July 30; and The Weather Channel, Aug. 7 through 27. Millions of consumers will see the Trusted Choice® brand and its more than 6,100 participating agencies. In all, more than 350 spots will air coast to coast during the summer. See the ad schedule, and check out when the ads will air on programs such as "Anderson Cooper 360," "Nancy Grace" and "Larry King Live."

A complementary, 45-day Internet ad campaign also will appear on www.AOL.com, www.MSN.com and www.Yahoo.com July 17 through Aug. 31. Trusted Choice® banner ads will be featured in high-traffic areas, including the e-mail, home, real estate, career and finance pages.

This advertising campaign is a great opportunity for Trusted Choice® agencies to leverage the brand to increase local awareness. All Trusted Choice® agencies should run tie-in ads in their communities to establish themselves as the consumer’s smart choice for insurance and financial services. No matter what type of advertising you chose to run, your agency will gain significantly more exposure since consumers will associate the national TV ads with their local Trusted Choice® agency.

Trusted Choice® makes it easy for your agency to advertise by providing several customizable ads in radio, television and print format that you can add your agency name and contact info and run in your local market. We also provide helpful guides on buying print and broadcast media. Invest a little time and a little money into a tie-in advertising campaign and raise the profile of your Trusted Choice® agency with local consumers. Don’t miss your chance to capitalize on the national ad campaign! Not yet part of Trusted Choice®? Join the consumer brand movement! For more information, contact Jenner Gohr at 800-221-7917; jenner.gohr@iiaba.net.