T H U R S D A Y ,   S E P T E M B E R  1 8 ,   2 0 0 8

Industry News

IIABA News
Big “I” Urges Congress to Act on NFIP

The Big “I” joined forces with other associations and sent a letter to congressional leaders urging them to act on the reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which is set to expire in two weeks on Sept. 30. Click here to view the letter.

If the NFIP expires, there would be no more new or renewed flood insurance policies and millions of consumers would be left without flood insurance coverage. Additionally, it could also further complicate the major problems currently facing the economy since many mortgages require an active flood policy.

The letter is a joint effort by the the Big “I”, American Insurance Association, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, The Financial Services Roundtable, Mortgage Bankers of America and National Association of Realtors.

InVEST
Share the InVEST Message

The need for new talent in the insurance industry is overwhelming and millennials will dominate the workforce by 2015. The insurance industry can’t wait until seats are empty to take a stand --- it needs to create a buzz now about the viable and flexible career opportunities available in insurance. InVEST starts in the classroom, linking insurance professionals with high school and community college instructors. InVEST liaisons act as industry experts in the classroom by guest speaking, and hosting job shadowing days and career fairs. Starting an InVEST program is easy, rewarding and flexible. InVEST has created a new brochure to help insurance professionals, students and teachers illustrate the program’s message. To download the InVEST Can Help brochure, click here. For copies of the brochure, contact Jennifer Robinson at jennifer.robinson@iiaba.net.


Trusted Choice^®
New Trusted Choice^® Television Ads Available

Trusted Choice^® has two new tag-able TV ads available for member agents to use. The first ad focuses on the Pledge of Performance and uses six different Trusted Choice^® agents from around the country to recite different tenets of the pledge. The second ad is a commercial lines-centered piece focusing on rebuilding a business following a disaster and features Ray Murphy, owner of Daniel’s South Beach Restaurant in Bay St. Louis, Miss. Murphy bought a wind policy from his Trusted Choice^® agent on a Thursday and then his restaurant was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina later that same week. The ads can be found in the Agents/Brokers section of www.TrustedChoice.com under Advertising – TV Commercials.

You will need your agency username and password to access these areas of the secured “Agents/Brokers” section of www.TrustedChoice.com. If you do not have this login information, send an e-mail to Trusted.Choice@iiaba.net requesting it. For more information, contact Jenner Gohr at 800- 221-7917; jenner.gohr@iiaba.net.


Big “I” Flood Program
FEMA’s Maurstad Resigns

Effective Sept. 13, David Maurstad, assistant administrator for mitigation and administrator of the National Flood Insurance Program, resigned. 

“I have appreciated David’s efforts to make American families, homes and communities stronger, smarter and safer and his unyielding commitment to letting our nation know that mitigation works,” said FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison in the announcement on Aug.19.

Maurstad joined FEMA nearly seven years ago and first served as director of region eight. During his tenure as assistant administrator he faced a number of storms, including Hurricane Isabel which occurred during his first year of service in 2003. The following year, the NFIP faced the record-breaking 2004 hurricane season in Florida, followed by the extraordinary challenges of the 2005 season which included Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. 

Since then, mitigation has updated and digitized the nation’s flood maps; administered the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program in the wake of Katrina and developed quick and creative solutions to help the Gulf Coast recover as quickly as possible. Now, more than 16,000 communities have created mitigation plans and an additional one million people have chosen to protect themselves from flooding by purchasing flood insurance.

The mitigation directorate also refocused America’s attention on failing levee systems and supported thousands of grants for safe rooms and building hardening, and elevations and acquisitions. People are now more aware of their risks for earthquakes and wildfires and understand how to take action to protect themselves. Work continues with states and communities on hurricanes and dam safety providing the tools and resources. And FEMA has provided advice and counsel on preserving America’s most treasured environmental and historic resources.

Moving forward, Michael Buckley will serve as acting assistant administrator for FEMA mitigation directorate and Ed Connor will serve as acting federal insurance administrator. Both have been serving as deputy assistants taking on critical roles in the transformation of the mitigation directorate under Maurstad.


Young Agents
2008 Young Agents Leadership Institute Wrap-Up

The 2008 Young Agents Leadership Institute was a great success! The event took place Sept. 12-13 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and featured numerous opportunities for Young Agents to learn new leadership and business development skills.

Staff liaisons and state committee chairs participated in an informal roundtable discussion to network and learn about other state programs. Technology forum attendees gained insight into the latest technology trends in a future-oriented discussion with Steve Anderson, president of The Anderson Network. Keynote speaker Jeff Tobe brought both incredible enthusiasm and knowledge to Young Agents. Attendees also learned about data breach backgrounds and discovered insurance solutions to this growing problem. After attending the Magnificent Seven panel featuring Young Agent award winners, attendees from across the country took away the tools necessary to make their state Young Agents programs stronger than ever.

Congratulations to the following 2008 Young Agents Committee Award winners:

Young Agents Committee Award - The Young Agents Committee of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina

Young Agents Committee Award Runner-Up - The Young Agents Council of the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents

Membership Development Award - The Young Agents Committee of the Independent Insurance Agents of Indiana, Inc.

State Committee Project - The Young Agents Council of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents

Young Agents Meeting Award - The Young Brokers and Agent Committee of the Insurance Brokers & Agents of the West

Political Involvement Award - The Young Agents Committee of the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia, Inc.

Communications Award - The Young Agents Committee of the Independent Insurance Agents of Indiana, Inc.

For more information, contact Katie Cosgrove at 800-221-7917; katie.cosgrove@iiaba.net.


Big “I” Markets
Nonstandard Homeowners Products Carrier Update

Recent headlines about the financial services industry and American International Group, Inc. (AIG) have garnered the interest and attention of Big “I” Markets users. AIG is the parent company of Lexington, which underwrites all of the nonstandard homeowners products available on Big “I” Markets. The Big “I” has been in contact with its representatives from AIG/Lexington and will share more information with members when it becomes available. Big “I” Markets is a niche and specialty product resource exclusive to member agencies of the Big “I.” For information on Big “I” Markets, visit www.bigimarkets.com and log in using your user name and password. Quotable access is limited to members who have registered, but informational access is available to any member of the Big “I.”


Big “I” Flood Program
Sign Up for Flood Sales Webinars

Big “I” Markets agents can register now for a free Webinar later this month that will offer simple yet effective marketing techniques for selling flood insurance. The webinar will take place at 11 a.m. EST, Sept. 24. To register send an e-mail with the subject line: “Oh, By The Way Flood Sale Webinar” to bigimarkets@iiaba.net.