CHANGE: WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY! by Chris Burand A changing industry offers the greatest opportunity business people ever have for becoming successful. Chris Burand urges you to welco...

Ten years ago it took $5 million in total agency revenues and about $30 million in Property/Casualty premiums to land on the top 100 agency list. Now an agency needs to have in excess of $10 million in revenues and $60 million in premiums to make the cut. Ten years ago the average independent agency in the country had $250,000 in total revenues with six to seven people. Today the average is close to $600,000 in revenues, also with six to seven people. To use a phrase from Bob Dylan, "the times, they are a changing."

There may come a time when your agency's communications needs exceed the capabilities of in-house personnel. You want to concentrate on producing new business, developing products, and servicing clients. Who has the time and expertise to create newspaper or radio advertising-or perform the myriad public relations functions necessary to keep your agency in the public eye?

COMBINING INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES: REALITY CHECK by Carol Hammes After the Barnett decision in Florida and the subsequent passage of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financ...

COMMON MISTAKES IN SELECTING SALESPEOPLE These points from Boardroom Reports were taken from a talk by Dr. Arthur Witkin, chief psychologist at Personal Science Center, New York. These are basi...

COMMON MISTAKES IN SELECTING SALESPEOPLE These points from Boardroom Reports were taken from a talk by Dr. Arthur Witkin, chief psycholog...

Here's a quick investment quiz: Which of the following investments will provide the best financial return over the next five years?
A.Microsoft stock
B.Coca-Cola stock
C.Citigroup stock
D.A newly hired Property & Casualty producer

The answer is D. No kidding.

CONTINGENCY COMMISSIONS: A WIN-WIN PROPOSAL by Al Diamond This solution to the contingencies controversy benefits everybody in sight. In October 2004, New York Attorney-General E...

CONTRACTORS - A DIFFICULT INDUSTRY Dear (Customer Name): Yours is a difficult industry. We at (Your Agency Name) know because we've been insuring general contractors for ( ) years. We also know yo...

CONVALESCENT AND NURSING HOMES - 'YOU PROVIDE CARE - SO DO WE' Dear (Customer Name): YOU'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF PROVIDING CARE. SO ARE WE. Your residents are often physically weak...