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T H U R S D A Y , S E P T E M B E R 2 7 , 2 0 0 7 Industry News IIABA NEWS Are You on InsurPac Donor List? Roughly 3,000 individuals have collectively contributed $625,000 to InsurPac in 2007. This support helps the Big “I” advocate on behalf of its members throughout the halls of the U.S. Congress. InsurPac relies upon voluntary personal contributions, and 100% of the money InsurPac raises is disbursed to the campaigns of federal officials and candidates for federal office—no money is used for administrative purposes. Contributors can be proud that their hard-earned money is spent wisely and efficiently, all with one purpose in mind: to protect members’ livelihood.
InsurPac would like to publicly thank the 1,000 individuals who have contributed in excess of $250 this year. Are you on the list? InsurPac Donors for States: A thru H, I thru M, N thru O and P thru Z.
Please note, a final list will be published at the conclusion of the 2007 year. Any questions can be directed to Nathan Riedel at nathan.riedel@iiaba.net.
InVEST InVEST Newsletter Now Available The fall edition of the InVEST newsletter is now available on the InVEST Web site. The newsletter informs InVEST liaisons and teachers about the free products, services and publications that are available to InVEST program participants. The fall edition of the newsletter features the new InVEST scholarship deadline and highlights the free AMS rating and Applied Agency Management software. For more information about the InVEST newsletter visit www.investprogram.org or contact Sandra Skipper at 800-221-7917; sandra.skipper@iiaba.net.
BIG “I” FLOOD PROGRAMSM A Guide to Flood Manual Changes It’s that time of year again when the NFIP makes changes to its flood manual. Here is a quick snapshot summary with links to the full version:
Flood Manual Changes as of Oct. 1
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) manual has revisions every May and October. If you have not received or ordered your updates or the full manual, please do so now for the Oct. 1 effective date. Your manual can be paper, a CD or viewed/downloaded from the Internet. Options are:
*Order from Map Service Center (MSC) store for $25 charge for main edition or $15 charge for the Producer’s Edition. Click here for the product catalog.
*Print from the Web site for free. Click here for the Web site.
*Save as a favorite in your browser and view online by clicking on the sections in the blue box for free using this link.
* Download to your PC from Web site.
The important thing is to have available the Flood Manual in your office as a useful reference. FEMA/NFIP has provided a summary of changes or, to see more detail on the changes, read the review by Linda Mackey, Big “I” Flood program manager. For more information, contact Mackey at linda.mackey@iiaba.net. Flood insurance is available to member agents registered at www.bigimarkets.com. For more information on the Big “I” Flood Program with Selective Insurance, visit www.independentagent.com/flood.
ACT Don’t Miss Real-Time Demonstration If you are attending the Big “I” Fall Leadership Institute in San Diego, you won’t want to miss the real-time demonstration. Real Time is an improved workflow for independent agencies that will help employees save time and money while improving customer service. Hear from the industry’s most knowledgeable individuals on the real-time initiative. ACT and AUGIE (ACORD User Group Information Exchange) are hosting this event Friday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and the event will include lunch. Programming for education directors, young agents and industry leaders also will be including in the action-packed lineup. For more information, contact Jeff Yates at jeff.yates@iiaba.net.
BEST PRACTICES Implementing Best Practices is Good Business Best Practices means doing the right things right the first time.
Explore new ways of doing business that eliminate duplication, reduce frustration and adds value for customers. Learn what agents and companies can do together to improve their critical relationships while increasing the value of the independent agency system through the Best Practices program.
The Best Practices program offers resources that tackle important agency management issues such as: recruiting, hiring and retaining top producers; evaluating customer service; joint agency/company planning; leadership skills; producer contracts; crisis management; sales and the core of the program --- the Best Practices study. This study evaluates the many financial and operational factors of the approximately 200 of the most profitable and growth-oriented agencies in the U.S. Each year, the information is updated and published allowing others to use the statistics to evaluate their own agency operations.
Every agent can benefit from learning about and using Best Practices. For more information and to download an order form, visit www.independentagent.com and select “Best Practices.”
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