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Industry News

IIABA News
Big “I” Installs New Leadership Team

C. Brett Nilsson, CIC, has been inaugurated as the chairman of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, with David Daniel as the new chairman elect, Mike Miley as the new vice chairman and Tom Minkler as the new executive committee member. The new officers began their terms at the recent Big “I” Leadership Conference in Las Vegas. 

“I am confident that we have just installed the ‘best-of-the-best’ of our industry to head the Big ‘I’,” says Bob Rusbuldt, Big “I” president and CEO. “With Brett, David, Mike and Tom at the helm of our association, we are well-armed to navigate through uncertain economic times for our industry and the country.”

Nilsson is senior vice president for The Buckner Company, based in Ogden, Utah.  Nilsson was first elected to the Big “I” executive committee in 2003 and was sworn in as vice president September 2006. Nilsson also served on IIABA’s national communications committee and its finance committee, which he chaired from 1999 to 2003. Prior to being elected to the executive committee in 2003, Nilsson served as president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Utah from 1992 to 1993 and as the board director from Utah for nine years. He is a past recipient of Utah’s Agent of the Year and Young Agent of the Year awards, and he received a Big “I” Presidential Citation in 2001. In 2003, Nilsson received his state association’s highest individual honor, the Burgener Award, a distinction that has only been awarded five other times in the history of the Utah association. He and his wife, Nancy, live in Layton, Utah. They have four children and seven grandchildren.

Daniel is president of Daniel and Eustis Insurance in Baton Rouge, La. He was elected to the Big “I”  Executive Committee in 2004 and also served on the board of directors of the Independent Insurance Agents of Louisiana (IIAL) for eight years before becoming president in 1997. Daniel has served as Louisiana’s national board director since 1998 and has acted as the state association’s representative to the Louisiana Insurance Rating Commission. Daniel is the recipient of IIAL’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Outstanding Committee Chairman Award. On the national level, Daniel has served on IIABA’s technical affairs committee and was chairman of the governance and communication task force. He and his wife, Janet, have two children, Mary Rose and John.

Miley began his insurance career in 1973 and joined the Gibson Insurance Group in 1983. In 1978 he joined the Marshall-Fulton-Starke Counties Independent Insurance Agents Association and went on to serve as president. He served on numerous Independent Insurance Agents of Indiana (IIAI) committees. In 1992, he was elected to the IIAI executive committee and served as president in 1995. Miley was elected Indiana’s State National Director to the board of IIABA in 1997. His numerous awards include: the 1987 Chairman of the Year award for his work on the new products and services committee, Indiana Agent of the Year Award in 1989 and 2006, Honorary Commissioner of Insurance in 1990 and the 1991 Harry P. Cooper Public Image Award. In addition to serving on numerous Big “I” committees, he has been active with the United Way of Marshall County, the local Chamber of Commerce, the Marshall County Mental Health Association, Marshall County Older Adult Services and the Plymouth Board of Parks and Recreation. Miley lives in Plymouth, Ind., with his wife, Cindy, and their two children, Margaret and Matthew.

Minkler is president of the Clark-Mortenson Agency in Keene, N.H. He is a past chairman of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of New Hampshire, past New Hampshire director on the Big “I” National Board and past president of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents. At the national association level, Minkler is past chairman of the Big “I” government affairs committee and has served on various other Big “I” committees including the professional liability committee, the agents advocacy fund committee, the agency administrative services committee, the additional markets subcommittee and the captive study committee. He is a frequent speaker for the insurance industry and has provided testimony before the U.S Congress on behalf of the Big “I” on a variety of topics. Earlier this year, he testified before Congress on behalf of the Big “I” in a hearing of the House Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Government Sponsored Enterprises and Insurance, to discuss insurance regulatory reform. Minkler is active in his community and serves on numerous charitable organizations and civic boards. He resides in Keene, N.H. with his wife, Heather, and step-son Mike, and has three grown children.


IIABA News
Save the Date!

Mark your calendars for April 29 - May 1 for the 2009 Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention. Change is on the horizon and independent agents need to educate new members of Congress on the issues important to the insurance industry and the economy. Join your colleagues from around the nation at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C. for the premier legislative event for independent agents. Whether it’s your first visit or you’re a seasoned attendee, the Big “I” makes it easy for you to speak with one voice on Capitol Hill. The Big “I” provides an issues briefing and talking points on the issues that are important to your agency. Please mark your calendars for this event. Early bird registration and hotel information will be available soon.


Best Practices
Best Practices Guide Defines Technology and Workflow Levels

The four progressive levels of technology and workflow implementation explained in the Best Practice Guide to Agency Business Process and Information Management are: manually automated environment, process environment, service environment and client environment. 

In the manually automated environment, there is either no computer or the computer is used primarily for accounting. Paper files are maintained and referred to frequently. Procedures may be in place; however, the procedures support both a manual and an automated environment.  There is a lot of redundancy and workflows vary from desktop to desktop.

In the process environment, computer features are implemented at a very basic level. Paper files are maintained; however, they only contain items not stored on the computer. The staff is trained on the computer features. As the vendor releases new features, they are implemented, and staff is trained on them. There is a lot of focus on internal agency processes. 

In the service environment the computer features are well implemented. Workflows are in place integrating the features and the insurance workflows. Supporting documentation is maintained, but not in the traditional paper file. Scanning has been implemented. Procedures are in place supporting an automated environment. Focus shifts from internal processes to value added client contacts and service and sales. 

The client environment is the optimum level. Routine processes are automated, significantly reduced and clients increasingly use the self-service options on the agency Web site or by phone. Clients (or vendors) obtain proof of insurance coverage and auto ID cards online.  Changes are requested via the Internet. Process centers, whether in the agency or in the carrier, are available for routine transactions.  The agency role is relationship driven and consultative. All staff members in the agency are focused on client service and sales.

To learn more about how an agency can advance to the next workflow level attend the Best Practices Webinar series. For more information, click here. To register, click here.


Big "I" Markets
New Niche Products Available

Big “I” Markets was created primarily to offer member agents access to specialty niche markets. So, in partnership with Markel Insurance Company, the Big “I” Markets is pleased to introduce a quartet of new niche programs. Listed on the Big “I” Markets commercial product menu as Markel Outdoors, these products are designed to help establish a niche market in businesses that caters to outdoor sports enthusiasts of all types. Starting today and for the next three weeks, Big “I” Market’s weekly publication, Two for Tuesday, will feature one of the four Markel Outdoors products. All four products are available on a licensed and admitted basis in all states except Alaska and Hawaii, with possible consideration of Alaska in the future. Markel is an A+ rated Trusted Choice^® company partner and strong supporter of the Big “I.”

The Markel Outdoors Guides & Outfitters product segment focuses on a variety of guided activities, including: freshwater and saltwater fishing guides (inland and coastal waters); float trip outfitters; upland bird and waterfowl hunting guides; North American big game guides/outfitters; pack trip outfitters; guided canoe and kayak tours and backpacking/wilderness camping.

For coverage details log on to Big “I” Markets and check out the Underwriting & Coverage page.


InsurBanc
Special CD Rates Available

Given the tough economy, InsurBanc is offering two special rate CDs. The 15-month CD has a 3.51% APY* and the seven-month CD offers and APY* of 3.10%.

In addition, InsurBanc has reduced the top tier balance on money market accounts from $300,000 to $250,000. Money market accounts of $250,000 will now earn the top tier rate, as well as be fully insured within the new FDIC insurance limits.

InsurBanc is determined to provide sound financial resources and actions to protect agents’ financial well being. This, along with a committed group of people with the knowledge to make you succeed, is a winning combination. For more information, contact InsurBanc at 866-467-2262; www.insurbanc.com.

*Minimum to open $5,000. New money only. Early withdrawal penalties apply. Rates in effect Oct. 9 – Nov. 7, 2008.  Rates subject to change without notice.

**Minimum balance to earn 2.50% APY is $250,000. APY in effect as of Oct. 9. Rates subject to change without notice.