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IIAN's 103rd Annual Convention October 6-8 in Lincoln, featuring UNL vs. K-State on the Big Screen
Join over 50 exhibitors at the trade fair, enjoy golf at Firethorn Country Club, try your luck at Casino Night with the Young Agents, get up to 17 CEU's* presented by the best insurance educators in the nation - including customer service guru Karen Flaherty, Virtual University founder Bill Wilson, and agency technology experts Steve Anderson, Brian Bartosh, Janet Tuttle, and Virginia Bates -- and "get your game on" for a HUGE tailgate party and the Nebraska-K-State game broadcast by ESPN on the BIG screen!
Click here for all the details and registration info!
Reserve your hotel room by September 13- call the Embassy Suites at 1-402-474-1111. *CEU approval pending by the Nebraska Department of Insurance |
First Call for IIAN 2010 Award Nominations
Nominations Open Until September 10
Each year IIAN recognizes the contributions of outstanding individuals who have given service and support to the Independent Agency System in Nebraska. This year's awards will be presented during the 103rd Annual Convention October 6-8, at the Embassy Suites in Lincoln, Nebraska. Please take a few minutes to nominate your choices in the following categories: Five Star Company of the Year, Company
Representative of the Year, Young Agent of the Year, Spirit of Nebraska Award. Download and submit your completed nomination form by September 10. |
Trusted Choice® Hits The Airwaves In Nebraska
New Radio Commercial Will Be Heard 4,788,000 Times Over 12 Months
IIAN members throughout Nebraska have been hearing IIAN's new Trusted Choice® radio commercial -- and so have insurance consumers! The 2010 Nebraska Trusted Choice® radio advertising campaign kicked off in April, with the new 30-second spot being broadcast during prime time listening hours, two
weeks each quarter (that's 1,170 local airings per quarter), over Nebraska Radio Network's 39-station network. The next quarterly airings will be October 11-23, 2010 and January 10-22, 2011.
Over the course of the campaign, 587,400 consumers will hear our message an average of 8.2 times - it will be heard 4,788,000 times! Hear the new Trusted Choice® commercial. Says Nebraska Trusted Choice® Chairman Tom Greco, CPCU, CIC, of Papillion, "The purpose of the 2010 Nebraska campaign is to
educate Nebraska consumers on the value and service provided by independent insurance agents, and help them identify those agents by looking for the Trusted Choice® brand."
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2011 Midwest Elite Force Sales Training School
Transforming New Producers Into Sales Superstars!
Seats are already going fast for the 2011 Midwest Elite Force Sales Training School, kicking off on November 8, 2010 at IIAN's Learning Center© in Lincoln. Elite Force is the most comprehensive insurance sales training course available to producers with less than 3 years experience in sales and less than 5 years in the industry. Class size is limited to a maximum of 15 students to allow individualized instruction and maximum interaction.
And Elite Force training works! Producers in the program average over $75,000 in first- year commissions. And the top 2009 Midwest Elite Force producer made over $200,000
in commissions. Nebraska producers have "priority seating" until September 21 - they'll join students from Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.
Final registration deadline for the 2010 school is October 1 - but we would strongly suggest that you register as soon as possible!
Click here for more information, testimonials, and application.
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Crop Companies Sign New USDA Agreement
Agents Get Hammered
While all 16 companies selling Federal Crop Insurance signed the new Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA), it wasn't because they liked it. As one company responded to USDA in a letter attached to their signed contract, "companies really don't have a choice other than to sign an agreement. Since the USDA has made a "take it or leave it" offer . . . we have no option other than to sign . . . even if we do not support it since our business is built on the delivery of the program to America's farmers."
This agreement establishes precedents that have never before been contemplated between USDA's Risk Management Agency and the companies, which are unheard of in normal, private insurance agreements.
The Big "I" remains strongly opposed to the compensation caps on agents' commissions and profit share - and has not given up the fight on this issue, even though we are not party to the agreement.
Click here for more on Big "I" testimony before Congress on July 22.
While it is unknown how the new agent commission caps will affect Nebraska agents, the new agreement only allows a company to pay up to 80% of the reimbursement it receives from the Federal program, which could even further limit what agents get paid.
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Big "I" Addresses Market Pushback
New ACORD 25 Certificates of Insurance
Some certificate holders are refusing to accept the September 2009 ACORD 25 form because it no longer includes a notice of cancellation, but rather refers them to the policy. They want you to use an earlier edition, modify the current form, or use a proprietary certificate. This article explains why you should not or can not comply with this demand. Also included is a "one-pager" you can give to your customers or third parties that explains this.
Also, click here for practical advice on using the new form from Dan Loring, CPCU, who represents IIAN at the Mid-America Technical Conference each fall.
Click hear to read the Nebraska Insurance Department Bulletin on Certificates.
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| Thanks to the Big "I" Industry Partner for July
Their support enables IIAN to present affordable, high-quality member programs.
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Insurance Studies Program
Insurance Studies Certificate program through Northeast Community College starts Aug 16 - Principles of Insurance - 8 weeks - 3 college credits.
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Nebraska's Learn Center at Virtual University
NEW! Check out Nebraska's Learn Center. Three NEW E&O courses and New Employee Training approved for CEUs in Nebraska.
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Free CE For Members
Commercial and Personal Lines Annual Checkup
Up to 6 CEUS*
August 17 - Ashland
August 18 - Norfolk
August 19 - Kearney
Register Here
* Pending Nebraska DOI Approval
Oct 8 - Lincoln
E&O Loss Control For Automated Agencies.
4 Ethics CEUs - Qualifies for SwissRe Premium Credit. Contact Brenda at the Big "I" office (800)-377-3985 for details.
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Seminars
CISR Courses
8 CEUs Each
Agency Operations
August 3 - Ogallala
August 4 - Norfolk
August 5 - Lincoln
Personal Residential
Sept 14 - North Platte
Sept 15 - Norfolk
Sept 16 - Lincoln
Dynamics of Service
(7 CEUs - New Course #)
October 6 - Lincoln
P/C Pre-Licensing Courses
August 24-26 - Lincoln
Sept 13-15 - Lincoln
L/H Pre-Licensing Courses
August 3-5 - Lincoln
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Webinars
Webinar Wednesdays
2 CEUs Each Day
Calendar & Registration Links
8/10: Business Auto or Equip Floater
8/11: E&O Claims Lessons
8/12: Homeowners Traps & Tricks
8/18: Builder's Risk
9/9: Death By Certificates
9/15: Construction Defect Claims
Online
Online P/C CEUs - VU Fraud Training Center
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Take the RealTime 21-day challenge! You can get there a step at a time. Visit RealTime on the web!
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|  In Memoriam
Past IIAN president Robert C. Crowl passed away on July 16, 2010. Bob was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1918 and was a 1936 graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School. He received his BA degree from Creighton University in 1940. Bob served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1940 to 1945 as a Lieutenant JG. He operated Keenan Insurance Agency in Omaha for many years, and was also active in the Life Underwriters association and CPCU Society. Bob received IIAN's Distinguished Service Award in 1959, and served as IIAN president in 1964. Memorials may be sent to Christ the King Church in Omaha. |
Your Marsh-Berry Letter
July 2010: Buying or Selling - Understanding Due Diligence
Whether you're a buyer or a seller, understanding the key areas of due diligence makes the
acquisition process flow more smoothly and in a reasonable amount of time. Click here.
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Premium Financing Specialists (PFS)
Your Big "I" Partner for Premium Financing
IIAN has been a proud partner with PFS for over five years - we know PFS can meet your agency's
premium financing demands - while still maintaining the highest level of service and support. They offer competitive rates, easy internet quoting, and prompt funding for any and all of your commercial and personal lines financing needs. More importantly, they understand the needs of the independent agency system and realize the importance of member support. For over 25 years, PFS has been a leader in premium financing. Through a nationwide network of branch offices, PFS finances more accounts than anyone else in the industry. When you use PFS for premium financing, you're helping support all of IIAN's educational and legislative advocacy efforts!
For a quote and to get started, call Mike Keegan of PFS at 800-255-6316 or 913-461-7594, or Liz Kittell at IIAN -- 402-476- 2951. They're here to help you - Just Ask! Click here for access to the new PFS web site.
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Young Nebraskans Compete in National Golf Tournament
Four Nebraska junior golfers are in Chesterfield, New Jersey , playing in the 42nd Annual Trusted Choice ® Big "I" National Championship, July 27-30, 2010. They qualified for the national tournament by competing with over 50 junior golfers at the Nebraska state tournament held July 8-9 at Eldorado Hills in Norfolk, Nebraska. Follow the action in Ardmore.
At the state tournament, Drew Taylor of Omaha, placed first among the boys, with a combined score of 144 over the two-day, 36-hole competition. Mitchel Klooz of Plainview placed second with 146, to join Taylor in Chesterfield. Titus Trvdy of Seward won the boys long drive competition. In the girls division, Danielle Lemke of Doniphan came out on top with a two-day score of 150, with McKayla Anderson of Fremont coming in second at 153. Lemke also won the girls long drive competition. Since neither girls winners was able to go to New Jersey, third- and fourth-place finishers Sarah Prevacek of Omaha and Allison VenJohn went to Chesterfield in their places.
Thanks to all of the local tournament chairs that made this tournament possible: Gary Wagner, Omaha; Doug Steffensmeier, Beemer; Jeff Pasold, Norfolk; Bob Marshall, Lincoln; Jerry Jensen, Grand Island; Chuck Christensen, Sidney; Jay Nielsen, Superior; as well as State Chairman Sean Chastain, Omaha. Thanks also to Bob Marshall of Lincoln, who travelled to Chesterfield to chaperone the national tournament qualifiers.
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Virtual Risk Management
Starting at $250 per year, the Virtual Risk Consultant, part of the Big "I" Professional Liability Program, is an easy-to-use agency resource website that offers risk exposure analysis information for hundreds of industries. Agencies can also access questionnaires and E&O coverage checklists, plus lots more. See the VRC website, or contact MAIA's Kelli Findley at 800-617-3658 for more information.
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About E-Bulletin
IIAN's E-Bulletin is a monthly newsletter that provides IIAN members with insurance industry and association news. In addition to delivering timely news and information, this newsletter communicates relevant information about valuable products and services that could enhance your agency's ability to succeed in the industry's competitive environment. If you wish to be removed from our e-mail list, e-mail webmaster@biginebraska.org. |
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Independent Insurance Agents of Nebraska | 8231 Northwoods Drive, Suite B | Lincoln | NE | 68505 |
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