EXPLAINS HARD MARKET Dear (Customer Name): You've probably noticed that your insurance rates have increased. It's nothing personal. The insurance industry is in what is ...

FIFTY YEARS' EXPERIENCE IN HOMEOWNERS Dear (Customer Name), This may come as a surprise to you ... in the next few days, your banker might spend a substantial number of your hard-earned dollars (ve...

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IN AN UNCERTAIN MARKETPLACE by Carol Hammes It takes a lot of planning to attain higher growth rates and lower expense levels. The first step in the process is to evalua...

FINANCIAL RATINGS DON'T TELL ALL by Chris Burand In the past year, it hasn't been unusual to see reports of companies that have had their debt ratings lowered, although their ...

At least 30,000 attorneys in the U.S. claim that they're practicing employment law. Statistically speaking, what holds true for any profession is true for employment lawyers: Half are above average and half are below average. How do you distinguish one from the other? How can you find out which lawyers or firms are in the top 5%? Don Phin discusses the questions you should be asking.

FRAUDBUSTERS: FIVE GOLDEN RULES FOR MINIMIZING LIABILITY IN EXPOSING FRAUD by G. Andrew Nagle Claim representatives and insurers face civil and criminal liability exposure for statements a...

To embrace — and benefit from — change, follow these guidelines.
Unrelenting and increasingly rapid change demands that the insurance industry rapidly uncover new ways to evaluate and respond to its marketplace.
I’ve worked with many highly successful insurance companies and agencies, helping them achieve higher levels of profitability through more sales, customer and employee loyalty, and retention. However, in many of these organizations, management remained blind to the dire need to change, despite its apparent desire to achieve higher profits. Managers can’t see the compelling need to change from the ways that allowed the organization to be successful in the first place.

FLESHING OUT PRESENT ACCOUNTS THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSURANCE BUSINESS! Dear (Customer Name): Perhaps we don't say it often enough, but we sincerely appreciate serving you. As independent insurance ...

FOLLOW UP ON CERTIFICATES OF INSURANCE by the IIABA Virtual Faculty Many insurers dont want their agents to copy them on certificates they issue. Other carriers have expr...

FORMING A STRATEGIC ALLIANCE by Carol Hammes A major challenge facing the Independent Agency System today is to provide quality products and services in a more cost effective and user-frien...