lsquo;IT AIN'T EASY BEING A CUSTOMER ANYMORE!' by Mike Manes The good news about being a poor old Cajun boy (I've been criticized for using this term to describe my...

10 WAYS TO AVOID LOSING THE SALE Many publications are in the business of telling you how to succeed at selling. Guidelines, strategies, and techniques exist in abundance. However, there isn't ...

Historically, a hard market is part of the cyclical nature of the insurance industry. At one time, these cycles occurred fairly consistently at about seven year intervals. However, the last significant hard market came in the mid-80s.

A hard market is characterized by increasing rates and/or reduced industry capacity, which leads to affordability and/or availability problems. In addition, both underwriting and claims adjusting usually become more stringent. In the current marketplace, these conditions are exacerbated by increased uncertainty about such loss exposures as terrorism, mold, etc., and by a reinsurance market significantly strained by the events of September 11.

A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR SMALL AGENCIES by Chris Burand Independent agencies, even small ones, definitely have a bright future. Offer better service related to a specific product or offe...

A CORPORATE FOCUS ON RISK MANAGEMENT OR 'YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING UNTIL YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'RE AT' by Alan Bland, AIIC OSHA, WHMIS, CERCLA, ERISA? What do they all mean? If you a...

A HIT LIST OF INSURANCE WORDS by David Chartrand Comic George Carlin is famous for a routine he did many years ago about the 'Seven Words you Can't Say On Te...

A QUICK AND EASY WEB MARKETING PLAN by Jack Fries Whether youre planning or upgrading your Web site, these proven principles can help. Web surfing is a fast-paced sport. ...

Many of your insureds will be putting a lot of money into annuities this month, next month, and for many months to come. Based on national sales figures, this is a near-guarantee. Will they buy through your agency or from a competitor? If you're an agency decision maker, the answer lies in your hands.

You've probably received great encouragement-- if not downright pressure-to put your business on the Internet. Whether you already have an Internet presence or are merely contemplating one, you should realize that just having a Web site doesn't guarantee that the people you want to reach will actually see it. You may have hung out your shingle, but the Internet customers you seek might be nowhere in sight.

BANKS, INVESTMENT FIRMS, AND INSURANCE AGENCIES: IT'S THE CULTURE! by Michael Manes James Carville, the 'Ragin' Cajun' of political consultants, achieved fame by observing,'It's the...