General Articles

CATASTROPHE PLANNING: IS YOUR AGENCY REALLY PREPARED? by Grace Bauer After talking to a number of agents, I've learned that only 10% of agencies are truly prepared for a catastrophe! Sur...

CATASTROPHE PLANNING: IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN by Grace Bauer Some of us are nervous about spring, knowing that it brings tornados and floods. Some of us are in hurricane areas, where summer a...

CHANGE IS A CERTAINTY by Al Diamond Attempting to maintain the same old business practices in a changing environment is as futile as trying to sit stationary in a rising tide. As ind...

CHECK FRAUD AND COUNTERFEITING by L. Burke Files As computer and duplicating technologies have advanced and become cheaper and more widely available, check fraud and counterfeiting have grown. T...

This checklist outlines the major factors an insurance agency and a producer should consider in negotiating an employment agreement. It should not be construed as a specimen contract or agreement but merely a guide for reaching a meeting of the minds over subjects important to both parties. If you are engaged in this kind of negotiation now, use this form to check off these considerations in the blocks provided, as they are agreed upon. Be sure to consult an attorney for assistance in drafting the legal language necessary to implement a formal contract.

CHECKLISTS PROTECT AGAINST ERRORS AND OMISSIONS by Grace Bauer I recently got to babysit my two nephews for four days. My sister gave me a long list of daily things to do as well as rules t...

CHOOSING AN ACCOUNTANT by Chris Burand The agency external accountant plays an integral part in every agency's operations. After reviewing many agencies financials, I've seen the unfortunate ...

Dear (Customer Name): One minute it's day care . . . the next minute, a counseling appointment . . . followed by a session in strategic public relations. You...

CLUSTER TIPS by Chris Burand Cluster contracts among individual agencies or groups of agencies (not necessarily the major cluster-type agency organizations) are almost alw...

COACHING SALESPEOPLE by Bob Ayrer All of the selling expertise and rah-rah sales rallies in the world dont mean a thing unless you can convert this knowledge into skill ...