F R I D A Y,   S E P T E M B E R   2 ,   2 0 0 5

 Industry News

HURRICANE UPDATE
Big "I" in the Eye of the Media Storm Coverage

Big "I" representatives hit the nation’s airwaves in full force to discuss Hurricane Katrina this week. Executive Committee member David Daniel spoke to Daryn Kagan on CNN Live Today on Tuesday, Aug.t 30. Daniel, live from Baton Rouge, discussed homeowners policies vs. flood policies and shared the insurance industry perspective on the disaster. "The insurance industry is well-poised for claims like this and for catastrophes like this," he said. "This is what people pay their insurance premium for." Bob Rusbuldt, Big "I" CEO, discussed possible repercussions of Hurricane Katrina on the insurance industry on "Your World with Neil Cavuto" on Fox News. Dave Evans, Big "I" senior vice president brought the U.S. insurance industry perspective to an international audience on CNN International, which broadcast all over the world Wednesday. For more information on Big "I" media efforts, contact Emily Crane at emily.crane@iiaba.net; 800-221-7917.

BIG "I" CONVENTION
Diversity Luncheon

The Big "I" will be hold its fourth Diversity Luncheon Saturday, Sept. 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the Big "I" Convention. The Diversity Task Force is a cooperative industry group comprised of Big "I" agents and brokers, members of groups representing Latin-American, African-American and Asian-American agents, and eight leading insurance companies charged with fostering a profitable independent agency force that reflects, represents and capitalizes on the opportunities of the diverse U.S. population. With agents and company representatives from our industry partners (Aetna, AIG Agency Auto, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, CNA, The Hartford, MetLife Auto & Home, Safeco Insurance Company and St. Paul Travelers) in attendance, this year’s luncheon offers the unique opportunity to share experiences, insights and ideas. Also at the luncheon, the Diversity Task Force will distribute its recently unveiled Diversity Toolkit. The Toolkit, underwritten by task force company partners, is a step-by-step guide for state associations to use in recruiting and retaining new members. The booklet and CD, Building Membership from Untapped Markets, focuses specifically on recruiting ethnic groups and emerging markets. Demonstrate your agency’s commitment to a diverse work force by joining us for the Diversity Luncheon. Click here for more information

Best Practices: Keep your customers happy

Don’t miss the Best Practices Management Institute workshop "Beyond Satisfaction – Climbing Up to the ‘Loyalty Level.’" This workshop is designed for anyone who wants to learn all the secrets of customer care. Customers are expensive to acquire and even more expensive to lose. Keeping customers (and keeping them happy) is the No. 1 priority in today’s competitive environment. You need new skills, attitudes and responses to stay ahead. Learn to set your sights on creating consistently positive customer experiences.

Speaker JoAnna Brandi is the founder of JoAnna Brandi & Company, Inc., a customer care company committed to helping companies build better relationships with their customers through marketing, consulting, research and training. Brandi has developed seminars on customer care, management in a customer-focused environment, customer-focused vision and culture. This workshop is on Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Best Practices Management Institute at the Big "I" Convention. It’s not too late to register! Click here for more information. Click here to register.

Improve Effectiveness, Enhance Profits

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York and the Agents Council for Technology will co-host a business improvement workshop on Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Best Practices Management Institute during the Big "I" Convention in New York City.

Technology is moving beyond the traditional service functions to respond to the multi-faceted needs of producers and principals to put new business on the books. In the first part of the workshop, "Enhancing Your Agency’s Sales & Marketing Effectiveness," business leaders will learn how agencies are using specific business processes and technology tools to enhance sales, marketing and management functions.

In the second part of this workshop, "Five Steps to a Better Agency Bottom Line," agents, carriers and vendors will discuss how to implement new business processes and technologies to enhance profits. This panel will focus on the benefits of the latest real-time interfaces, improved downloads, paperless strategies and other operations that drive agency efficiencies and enable more productive sales and service contacts.

"In this workshop, it’s more than industry experts," says Jeff Yates, executive director of ACT. "You’ll hear from innovators, successful agents, carriers and vendors who know how to thrive in the industry. They know how to improve business because they’ve all done it."

Click here for more information. Click here to register.

Visit Industry’s Largest Exhibit Hall

Network with leading insurance company representatives and a wide array of vendors and learn about new products and services in the industry’s largest exhibit hall during the 2005 Big "I" Convention. The convention will take place Sept. 10 through 12 at the Hilton New York in New York City.

The Big "I" Convention Exhibit Hall will feature more than 120 exhibitors representing the industry’s leading insurance companies, automation providers, other technology firms and related insurance services providers, including:

Don’t miss the exhibit hall! For more information, click here.

Win an iPod from Big "I" Advantage

Big "I" Advantage invites you to attend four free educational sessions held at the Big "I" Convention on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 1 to 5 p.m. Session attendees also will gain free admittance to the Opening Night Party at 6 p.m. This reception is a great chance to network with other agents and carrier representatives at the kick-off event for the industry’s most lively annual meeting. Also, attendees at each session will be entered into a drawing for a free iPod Shuffle! Attend all four sessions for four chances to win, and you could be the envy of your friends (or your kids) !

Sessions include:

Big "I" Flood Program – Don’t Be a Drip, Think Flood!—Learn how easy it is to cross-sell flood insurance, how rewarding selling flood insurance can be and how offering flood coverage can help you avoid E&O claims.

Big "I" Markets: The Right Move for Your Agency—Learn how to leverage online access to products such as non-standard and affluent homeowners, special event liability and a host of other commercial and personal lines markets, all provided by the member-benefit Big "I" Markets.

Taking Aim at the High-Value Homeowner Market—The affluent homeowner program provides member agents with access to two of the premier carriers in this market, Chubb and Fireman’s Fund. Learn what lines can be written stand alone vs. package and what coverage enhancements can give you an edge on the competition for homes valued at $500,000 or more.

Retirement Strategies for Agency Principals—There have been a number of changes in tax laws that allow for greater flexibility and tax savings through retirement plans. This session will look at retirement plans from an independent agency principal's standpoint as it relates to agency perpetuation and employee recruitment.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Brett Sutch at brett.sutch@iiaba.net; 800-221-7917.

BIG "I" ADVANTAGE
Cover Home-Based Businesses with Big "I" Advantage

According to a study completed last year by the Small Business Administration (SBA), home-based businesses make up about half of all U.S. businesses and are the predominant form of small business. A Big "I" study estimates that more than half of those home-based business owners are underinsured and nearly 40% of those surveyed are uninsured primarily because they think their homeowners policy covers their business.

There is a huge opportunity to educate home-based business owners and to offer them the protection they need to manage the risks they face. RLI’s At-Home Business Policy, available to Big "I" member agents through Big "I" Advantage, covers the homeowner policy gaps and at the same time protects agents from E&O losses. The product’s affordable premiums (starting at $150) and its stand-alone nature make it ideal for home-based retail and service businesses. More than 100 classes of businesses are eligible, including: accountants, photographers, database managers, call phone/pager sales, Web site designers, interior decorators, monogrammers, candle sales people and many computer consultants.

Click here to access a rating guide that includes a list of eligible businesses, applications and a list of administrators by state. Your administrator can tell you how to get applications and rate sheets and how to submit a quote. Or, if you are an agent in Alaska, Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Utah or West Virginia, you can submit an RLI application online with Big "I" Markets. Learn more about this product here.

TRUSTED CHOICE^®
Trusted Choice® Advantage Adds New Tips Column

Be on the lookout for the debut of a new Trusted Choice® Advantage column in the September issue: "Choice Words—Monthly Branding Tips and Ideas for Your Agency to Live By." The insightful column will educate agencies about brand execution and answer questions on how agencies implement the Trusted Choice® brand. Additionally, there will be advice from nationally recognized brand experts that will help identify and overcome brand challenges. "Brand" has become a familiar buzzword among independent agents and brokers and "Choice Words" will offer the ins and outs of why building your brand preference is key to differentiating your agency from competitors. Keep your eyes open for "Choice Words" in the September Trusted Choice® Advantage. The inaugural story will address why branding matters to your agency. For additional information about how Trusted Choice® can help your agency’s brand experience, login to the "Agents/Brokers" section at www.TrustedChoice.com and then click on "Branding Basics" or contact Stacy Heatherington at stacy.heatherington@iiaba.net; 800-221-7917.