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... a specialty program formed for restaurants, taverns, or certain construction ...effort. And, unlike the wholesale or Excess & Surplus Lines facilities, PA...

... that distinguish it from a standard insurance submission-say, the underwriting of a specialty class of business requiring expertise in exposure analysis, or rates and forms that deviate from normal terms and conditions to satisfy the customer's insurance needs. One often hears of a specialty program formed for restaurants, taverns, or certain construction trades, but I don't consider these specialty programs because an abundance of standard and nonstandard insurance companies will compete for this business with standard forms and rating criteria. In a genuine specialty program, only a limited number of insurance companies ... specialty applications) to underwrite and compete for the business properly. PAs will attend conventions and generally ask their agents to man the booths with them. Sharing association endorsements with the producer is another way to share in a marketing effort. And, unlike the wholesale or Excess & Surplus Lines facilities, PAs pay more commission to the producer. Before devoting time and energy to a program, the producer should ask the PA what his or her renewal retention has been for the past three years. A stable and profitable program will have ... renewal ratio of around 90% . There are many ways of finding a PA. Most programs are listed in periodicals such as Rough Notes and the Crittendon Report, and most advertise in trade journals. Talk to the marketing representatives of your standard insurance companies. In our program, Travelers marketing and underwriting personnel are familiar with the specialty products offered by the Gulf Insurance Group. The use of PAs will add to the profits and retention of your business. Thomas S. Gillingham is president of Gillingham & Associates, Inc., ...