ACCOUNTING VS. THE FRONT OFFICE by Gail Franzen Is there friction in your office between your accounting department and your service staff? Gail Franzen advises you to tackle ...

Confusion over agency bill vs. direct bill options has caused an E&O claim or two. Curtis Pearsall illustrates the consequences of this confusion with an example.

AGENCY GUARANTEES THAT WORK According to a Roper Report survey, a money-back guarantee is a much more effective advertising approach than a celebrity endorsement. Here's the breakdown of the survey ...

AGREEMENT FOR PURCHASE AND SALE by Gary Jacobson All Assets (Includes Trade Name Transfer) Comments This form involves a straightforward sale of all assets of a smaller incorporated agenc...

ASKING QUESTIONS: IT'S AN ART by Mary Beth Bolen Different types of questions require different types of responses. In your daily dealings with customers, it's important for you to know the ...

AUTO CLAIMS OPTIONS Dear (Customer Name): You're driving to a friend's house when a car roars out of a side street, smashing into your vehicle. There's no question of who's at fault - the other ...

BIRTHDAY LETTER Dear (Customer Name), Just a quick note to wish you a very Happy Birthday from the Personal Insurance Department of the (Your Agency Name). More often than not, we seem to be wr...

CLIENT BILL OF RIGHTS My attorney agrees to do the following: 1. Only work on my case if he or she has the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to be an excellent advocate on my behalf. 2...

COMMUNICATION BUILDS TRUST by Bill Cates Why we all need honest communication in our business and personal lives. In his book Just Be Honest, Steven Gaffney believes that withhold...

The conference report for H.R. 3103, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, provides for changes in the private heath insurance market. The bill guarantees the availability of private heath insurance coverage for certain groups and restricts the use of preexisting condition restrictions. Renewal of coverage will be guaranteed with limited exceptions. Although H.R. 3103 creates federal standards for insurers, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and employers who self-insure, the bill permits substantial state flexibility for compliance. This report examines the major features of H.R. 3103 regarding heath insurance.