AGENCY AUTOMATION: AN E&O RESOURCE by Ken Buehler Are you getting everything you should out of your agency automation system? This document by Ken Buehler examines some of the automation pit...

COMMISSION-REDUCTION STRATEGIES by Ken Buehler Commission reductions have been in practice for a number of years and, given the current expense reduction needs of carriers, there are no r...

My E&O classes include discussion on claims frequency by line of business. When I bring up the issue of Life insurance, many folks have trouble identifying...

E&O: E-MAILS AND BINDING COVERAGE by Curt Pearsall E-mail between agents and their clients is becoming increasingly common. Curt Pearsall recommends that you and your staff develop and implement ...

I frequently find articles on fraud in industry journals. Also, agent associations often put this topic on their state convention agendas. While we’ve all heard and read about many traditional scenarios of fraud, there are some new areas that can potentially affect insurance agents.

'I'M GOING GOLFING - PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THIS.' by Curtis Pearsall 'I'm going golfing - please take care of this.' 'Take care of what?' I was going to respond. It was too late; he was a...

LIFE INSURANCE IS NOT IMMUNE FROM E&O by Curtis Pearsall Over the years, E&O carriers have communicated a ton of information on how frequently E&O claims arise from the sale and service of Life insu...

MANAGEMENT 101: A CASE STUDY by Mike Manes Unfortunately, fear of change is fairly common and can keep your agency from performing as effectively as it could. This document by Michael M...

NOW IS ALWAYS THE BEST TIME TO SELL YOUR AGENCY, RIGHT? by Chris Burand According to a number of recent articles, small business owners should sell their businesses today to avoid large i...

The best way to master the tools reviewed here is to practice using them on the next spreadsheet you create. Sometimes it pays to take a step back and ask, "How can this basic spreadsheet be enhanced?" When these tools (along with a myriad of others that Excel has to offer) are applied properly, it's amazing what a spreadsheet can do.

Once these tools are mastered, it will be difficult to go back to that old pocketknife. When preparing your next spreadsheet, keep in mind the Excel tools discussed here, and use them often. Just as your trusty pocketknife comes in handy in many different situations, so will these tips for Excel spreadsheets.