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T H U R S D A Y , S E P T E M B E R 1 3 , 2 0 0 7
Industry News
TRUSTED CHOICE®
‘Flooding’ the Airwaves with Trusted Choice®
This summer, Trusted Choice® partnered with The Learning Channel program “Designing Spaces” to sponsor a series on important insurance issues for homeowners. These segments show viewers the kind of sound advice Trusted Choice® agents provide and how Trusted Choice® agents are an invaluable asset to a homeowner when making decisions to protect their homes and their families. The series consists of three separate, two-minute segments featuring one-on-one interviews with three Trusted Choice® agents by show host Debi Marie.
To watch segment one, “Increased Value of a Home (with Julie Turner),” click here and to see segment two, “Personal Liability/Umbrella Policy (with Jeanne Heisler),” click here.
The third segment on flood insurance with Big “I” President Alex Soto will air this weekend on TLC and the WE (Women's Entertainment) network. It will air on WE Sept. 14 at 7:30 a.m. and on TLC Sept. 15 at 7 a.m., both in the East and West (6 a.m. central time). Can’t catch either of those? Click here to find out when the segment will re-play on local broadcast network affiliates. For additional information, contact Jenner Gohr at 800- 221-7197; jenner.gohr@iiaba.net.
TRUSTED CHOICE®
Trusted Choice® TV Ads Reach Millions
The past year of advertising has been very successful for Trusted Choice®. The year began with a different advertising strategy of advertising for two weeks every month on national cable channels. This schedule has worked very well because not only are many consumers seeing the ads, but it also allows many more tie-in opportunities for Trusted Choice® agencies. The result? A greater consistency in exposure to the brand for consumers. Trusted Choice® has decided to continue with this strategy for another year, starting in September 2007. The cable networks for each month are as follows:
• September 10-23 The Weather Channel
• October 8-21 Fox News
• November 5-18 Fox News
• December 3-16 The Food Network
• January 7-20 2008 The Travel Channel
• February 4-17 The Weather Channel
• March 10-23 CNN
• April 7-20 The Travel Channel
• May 5-18 Fox News
• June 9-22 The Food Network
• July 7-20 CNN
• August 18-31 The Weather Channel
To view the detailed programming schedules, click on the different networks.
In the fourth quarter of 2006, Trusted Choice® commercials reached 18,715,000 consumers one time, with gross impressions totaling 44,650,000. (Gross impressions take into account consumers who saw the ad more than once.) In the first quarter of 2007, the net reach was 19,027,000 with gross impressions of 37,520,000. For additional information, contact Jenner Gohr at 800- 221-7197; jenner.gohr@iiaba.net.
YOUNG AGENTS
Still Time to Register for 2007 Young Agents Leadership Institute
The 2007 Young Agents Leadership Institute is two weeks away---have you registered yet? The event will be held Sept. 28-30 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. Featuring distinct breakout sessions focusing on membership development, communications and political involvement, attendees will leave the conference with outstanding leadership skills. Attendees will hear from ACORD, Artizan Internet Services and Applied Systems and members of ACT during the technology panel where they will gain insight into the latest technology trends. Those in attendance also will have the opportunity to network with peers and Big “I” leaders, learn new strategies for agency management and develop valuable professional and personal contacts. The keynote speaker, Chip Eichelberger, will enlighten, motivate and inspire everyone to make the most of this conference. The Young Agent Committee Awards also will be unveiled, highlighting the efforts and enthusiasm Young Agent Committees have toward their states. The Young Agent opening event will be a San Diego dinner cruise on Sept. 29.
Don’t let this opportunity pass by. Visit www.independentagent.com and click “Young Agents” for updates on the event and for online registration. For more information, contact Katie Cosgrove at 800-221-7917; katie.cosgrove@iiaba.net.
IIABA NEWS
Mark Your Calendars for Winter Meeting
Fall is on its way and winter is sure to follow, so make plans now to shed the winter layers and bask in the warm Caribbean sun. The 2008 Big “I” Best Practices Symposium and Winter Board Meeting will be held Jan. 13-20, 2008, at The Westin Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort in Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas. The board meetings are scheduled for Jan. 16-20.
New to the 2008 schedule, the symposium scheduled for Jan.13-15 is open to the elite 2007 Best Practices agencies and sponsors only. This program will combine networking, learning and relaxation. A special awards banquet to recognize the top performing agencies in each of the study’s seven revenue categories will close the multi-day event. The Big “I” and Reagan Consulting, Inc. look forward to recognizing these outstanding agencies. Invitations will be sent directly via mail.
For more information or to make your reservations, click here.
InVEST
Applied Systems Software for InVEST Schools
Applied Systems, Inc.’s DORIS agency management software is available to active InVEST schools. The software features include Transformation Station, Bridget, download, accounting, marketing, ACORD™ forms, diary system and integrated rating that make this management system an important asset in running an insurance agency. InVEST students can use the system to keep track of their customers when they set up mock insurance agencies. The DORIS software is easy to learn; see for yourself by viewing a free online demonstration at www.dorissystems.com. As an advocate for educating tomorrow’s insurance leaders, Applied Systems, Inc., is proud to sponsor InVEST in its continuing commitment to insurance education. Applied Systems’ financial support and contribution of DORIS agency management software enable teachers and agency liaisons to use real-life technology to teach students about the industry. For more information, contact Sandra Skipper at 703-683-7556 or e-mailing it to sandra.skipper@iiaba.net.
BIG “I” MARKETSSM
Newsletter Features Affluent Program
Agencies should have received the latest edition of the Big "I" Advantage Newsletter. It is packed with information about a variety of products and services available to agents through their membership in their state association. The issue includes a 12-page, glossy supplement featuring the Affluent Program. Please pull it out and keep it as a reference tool. If you did not receive the newsletter, click here to view it. You also can click here to view the affluent supplement. For additional copies, send an e-mail request to bigimarkets@iiaba.net.
BIG “I” MARKETSSM
Agent Success Story
A member agent in Clovis, N.M., was the first to place a risk previously ineligible for our restaurant program. An ethnic-style restaurant needed coverage quickly to close on the bank financing. As new owners, it is difficult to find admitted coverage. ProHost not only was able to place coverage, but it did it in record fashion. Joan Friedberger and the underwriters at ProHost quoted and issued coverage within 24 hours. The agent and underwriter saved the day and increased their agency premium volume by $6,700. A nice success for all involved. For more information on the restaurant program and other products available through Big “I” Markets, visit www.bigimarkets.com.
BEST PRACTICES
The Five Practices of Highly Effective Leaders
The independent agency system is in an era of transition. Agency principals and managers must constantly learn from and grow with the times. “The Five Practices of Highly Effective Leaders,” a Best Practices handbook that presents five key practices of 18 leaders who successfully guided their agencies through periods of change and uncertainty will provide real-life examples of how to apply these practices.
This 200+ page handbook contains useful worksheets for developing a plan of action and contains lists of tips, techniques and key objectives for building effective teams, using teams to identify productivity improvements and cost savings, use of goals and plans to focus activities and much more. Most of the chapters begin with a quick quiz designed to help determine where you are with a certain issue and where you would like to be, while the remainder of each chapter contains information on how you can achieve your objectives. Now you can skip the trial-and-error approach and get four-star results from five proven practices for overcoming new and difficult challenges. Experience is the best teacher and this handbook lets you profit from the experience and success of others. The case studies show how these leaders applied five fundamental practices to accomplish superior results through their employees: engage and empower staff and teams, align employees with the agency’s vision and goals, clarify expectations, support employees’ and teams’ needs, reward progress and results achieved.
“Five Practices of Highly Effective Leaders” includes tips and techniques to build and lead effective teams, identify opportunities for productivity improvements and cost savings, improve customer service and quality and increase the effectiveness of all employees. Plus, diagnostic tools are provided to help you and your staff put these leadership best practices into action. The Big “I” member discount price is $50 and the non-member price is $70. Click here for an order form. For more information about the IIABA Best Practices program, visit www.independentagent.com, and click “Best Practices” under the Member Resources section.
VIRTUAL UNIVERSITY
Is Quality Education Your Goal?
We all have a lot to do and only a limited amount of time to accomplish our goals, but reaching those goals should be fun and leave us with a sense of pride and accomplishment. Agents seeking creative and innovative ways to meet their insurance education goals have a great resource to meet those goals: the Big “I” Virtual University. At the Big “I” Virtual University Web site, everyone in the agency will find a wide variety of unique, quality online classes to enhance and expand their insurance technical and business skills. Classes, which both members and non-members can purchase, include certification and designation programs, as well as beginner, intermediate and advanced classes --- all online and available anytime. To access the Virtual University, go to www.indpendentagent.com or click here to go directly to the online course catalog.
Some of the offerings available online include: New Employee Training Course, ACSR Module 1: Homeowners Insurance, ACSR Module 2: Personal Auto Insurance, ACSR Module 3: Personal Lines Related Coverages, ACSR Module 4: E&O Loss Control, ACSR Module 5: Professional Development & Account Management, ACSR Module 10 Understanding Life Insurance and Determining Client Needs, ACSR Module 11 Understanding Health Insurance and Determining Client Needs, ACSR Module 12 Understanding Government, Disability, and Long Term Care Insurance, Building Your Service Into Gold, Business Interruption Insurance, Changing Attitudes: Creating Opportunities, Commercial Crime, Conflict Resolution, Design an Information Security Program, E&O Exposures for Trucking and more.
What are the advantages of using the Virtual University’s online course offerings?
• Self-paced --- learn as fast or slow as you need at your own PC.
• Simple --- the VU uses easy-to-understand technology and step-by-step instructional diagrams on the Web site to help you navigate through the courses effortlessly.
• Comprehensive --- the VU’s online classes combines video, audio, presentation slides, worksheets, interactive tests and challenges, along with text. You can even print select resources as references to help you apply what you've learned as you work.
• Timely --- the VU’s training is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week via the Internet, from your home, office or even a vacation spot. After you complete the courses, you can then apply what you've learned in your own organization and reuse classes you have completed for up to one full year.
• Consistency --- every person in your organization will see, hear, read and apply the same consistent, high quality Big “I” training.
• Technical Support --- all VU classes come complete with terrific online e-mail support.
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