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United Fire & Casualty Company Agency Agreement Reviewed |  General Casualty Agency-Company Agreement Reviewed |  More Agencies, Companies Joining Brand Movement |  November Issue Hits Mailboxes |  Fund Contributions Top $300,000 | Industry News

L E G A L   A D V O C A C Y
United Fire & Casualty Company Agency Agreement Reviewed

IIABA’s Office of the General Counsel has completed its review of the United Fire & Casualty Company Agency Agreement. Some provisions of concern in the agency agreement are: 1) the company automatically acquires ownership of the agent’s expirations if the agent pays late, even if the agreement is not terminated; 2) the agreement can be terminated at any time; 3) the agent can lose all right to the profit sharing bonus payments earned if the agent is delinquent in a payment due the company when the company is ready to make the payment in the next year; and 4) the company interpretation of the agreement is "absolute and binding." Big "I" members can access the complete review on the member-only Legal Advocacy section of www.independentagent.com under Contract Reviews. For more information, contact Kathleen Graber at kathleen.graber@iiaba.net; 703-706-5432.

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General Casualty Agency-Company Agreement Reviewed

IIABA’s Office of the General Counsel completed its review of the General Casualty Agency-Company Agreement, the General Casualty Electronic Access Addendum and the General Casualty Profit Contingent Commission Schedule. With regard to the agency-company agreement, some provisions of concern for agents are: 1) notice of termination acts to terminate the agent’s authorization to solicit, bind or execute contracts of insurance; 2) there is a personal guarantee with several troublesome provisions; and 3) there is a power of attorney from the agency to representatives of the company. Big "I" members can access the complete review on the member-only Legal Advocacy section of www.independentagent.com under Contract Reviews. For more information, contact Kathleen Graber at kathleen.graber@iiaba.net; 703-706-5432.

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T R U S T E D     C H O I C E ®
More Agencies, Companies Joining Brand Movement

The number of Big "I" agency locations participating in the Trusted Choice® brand movement continues to grow. Trusted Choice® surpassed the 5,000-participant milestone on June 21—six months ahead of the business plan—and currently is nearing the 5,300-participant mark. Since September 2004, 984 Big "I" agency locations joined and 4,300 renewed their participation in the brand program. From a national perspective, the percentage of Big "I" agencies participating in Trusted Choice® is nearly 23%. The top 12 participation states, in terms of percentage of membership, are: South Dakota (80%), Wyoming (74%), New Hampshire (66%), Rhode Island (62%), Maine (52%), Washington (45%), South Carolina (40.5%), Vermont (38%), Florida (38%), Kentucky (37%), Alaska (37%) and New Jersey (37%).

The brand program is enjoying company partner growth as well. Since January, four new company partners have joined: Liberty Northwest, Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance, Harleysville Insurance and Upland Mutual Insurance. Thirty-two company partners now support the brand program. What does all this news mean to your agency? The Trusted Choice® brand movement is gaining momentum. The growing support of agencies and company partners mean more resources will be dedicated to building consumer awareness of the brand and of the value of using a Trusted Choice® agency: choice, customization and advocacy support. If your agency is not yet a part of the Trusted Choice® network, now is the time to join. After all, more than 5,000 of your agency colleagues and your company partners can’t be wrong!

To join, go to www.TrustedChoice.com and click on "Agents/Brokers." Enter your agency ZIP code and click on "enter" to launch the easy online registration process. After your agency signs up, remember to complete the agency profile and to list all branch office locations in the profile. For more information, contact Jeff Myers at jeff.myers@iiaba.net; 800-221-7917.

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I A     M A G A Z I N E
November Issue Hits Mailboxes

 The November issue of Independent Agent magazine is in the mail. Chock full of insurance insights and know-how, here's a peak at what the issue holds: "The Big ‘I’ Takes on the Big Apple," a comprehensive look back at the 2005 Big "I" Convention; "Protect Your Profits with a Niche," detailing how to crack the niche market nut; "Assembly Line Efficiency in L-H Sales," a primer on how to improve life-health results with worksite marketing; "Market Aftermath," a look at Hurricane Katrina's impact on pricing; and more! And it doesn’t stop there---don't forget to visit IAmagazine.com for the issue's Online Extras as well.

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K A T R I N A   R E L I E F   F U N D
Fund Contributions Top $300,000

With the generous support of carriers, company partners, individuals, and state associations, the Big "I" Katrina Relief Fund has collected more than $300,000 to date. Its goal is to assist those whose lives were tragically altered by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. All donations will help insurance industry colleagues, including independent agents, brokers, their employees and families in the impacted areas.

The Big "I" Katrina Relief Fund is now accepting applications for grants from affected agents. To download an application, click here. To read the Big "I" Katrina Relief Fund distribution guidelines, click here.

Make checks payable to "Big ‘I’ Katrina Relief Fund" and mail to:

Big "I" Katrina Relief Fund
c/o InsurBanc
10 Executive Drive
Farmington, CT 06032

If you prefer to contribute via credit card, please click here.
All funds contributed to the Big "I" Katrina Relief Fund are tax deductible as charitable contributions.

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