YOUNG AGENTS: A NEW BUSINESS MODEL FOR A NEW GENERATION by Elaine Tolen When Amy Bryan opened Bryan Insurance Agency (New Windsor, NY), in 2004 at the age of 22, she had no clients, no carrier...

Personal Lines competition continues to intensify, as more and more players enter the marketplace. However, independent agents can fight back — if they're willing to make some fundamental changes in the way they do business. In this two-part document, Peter van Aartrijk presents 17 ways to help you build your Personal Lines book. If implementing all of them seems impossible, try three or four. But make a commitment, and go for it.

10 WAYS TO FIGHT TELEPHONE FRAUD by Peter van Aartrijk Jr. Telephone industry analysts estimate that telephone fraud in the United States costs businesses and residences as much as $4 billion pe...

HOW TO BUILD YOUR PERSONAL LINES BOOK, PART II by Peter Van Aartrijk Personal Lines competition continues to intensify, as more and more players enter the marketplace. However, independent a...

AGENCY CLAIMS PROCEDURES: A TIME TO SHINE by Lois Van Horn Insurance agents sell clients a promise-an intangible product. It is nothing they can hold or enjoy and probably what someone told...

POSITIONING IS AN E&O ISSUE by Phyllis Van Wyhe The way you position yourself with your clients impacts your E&O exposure. Fast Phil sells cheap, hassle-free insurance. He says, ...

FRAMEWORK FOR AGENCY SUCCESS by Patty Vaughn Planning agency success is a learning experience. Sharing ideas, taking advantage of opportunities, and tapping untapped resources, with the help of ...

FRAMEWORK FOR AGENCY SUCCESS by Patty Vaughn NEW BEGINNINGS I'm not quite sure why, but for me, fall is the time of year that signals new beginnings. Maybe it's because students are...

BANKS: IF WE CAN'T BEAT 'EM, SHOULD WE JOIN 'EM? by Patty Vaughn The Supreme Court decision, Barnett Bank v. Florida Insurance Commissioner, has created a plethora of new partnerships. T...

Ethical behavior and practices are crucial no matter what business you’re in. This document by Dick Weber discusses the ethical issues you might face and offers guidelines for maintaining ethical conduct.

For as long as I can remember, the Society of Financial Service Professionals (formerly The American Society of CLU & ChFC) has celebrated March as Ethics Awareness Month. And although ethics is an important part of the mission statement of the Society, ethics awareness is not the sole provence or responsibility of CLUs. Ethics awareness and action is something we all need to integrate into our lives.