The Insurance Journal Academy of Insurance provides online training for insurance professionals.
Insurance is one of the most important financial mechanisms of modern capitalistic societies. And an insurance career can be fascinating and rewarding – provided it has the right foundation. The 12-week Advanced Basic Training course will provide that strong career foundation. Designed for those [...]
Recent property/casualty insurer financials showed improvement but Thomas Motamed, CNA Financial’s CEO and chairman, isn’t jumping for joy yet. Investment income is down and underwriting results aren’t improving, he says in this interview with Insurance Journal’s Andrew Simpson. That means companies like his have to stress pricing and underwriting discipline even though the economy continues [...]
Insurance innovation…is it an oxymoron? That was the provocative title of a panel at the Professional Liability Underwriters Society meeting in Chicago. One of the panelists, Leib Dodell, now with the new ThinkRisk Underwriting in Kansas City and formerly president and CEO of Media Professional Insurance, discusses why and how the insurance industry should embrace [...]
Virtually every company has both media and technology exposures today. Traditional liability policies, marketing, and even distribution in the property/casualty insurance industry have to change to keep up with this convergence, advises Leib Dodell, formerly president of Media Professional Liability and now with ThinkRisk Underwriting in Kansas City. In this interview with Insurance Journal’s Andy [...]
The world is changing, with virtually every business now facing both media and technology exposures. Insurance needs to keep up, says Leib Dodell , former president and CEO of Media Professional Insurance, who is now part of the team launching a new specialty E&O facility based in Kansas City called ThinkRisk Underwriting Agency. In this [...]
Dr. Robert Hartwig, president and economist at the Insurance Information Institute, is the “go-to guy” when it comes to understanding economic and policy trends that affect the property and casualty insurance industry. He’s had a busy year explaining trends to insurance groups around the country. In this interview with Insurance Journal’s Andy Simpson, Dr. [...]
Adam DeGraide, Founder and CEO of Astonish Results, developed the Digital Marketing System while perfecting his web-based marketing strategies with car dealerships. Employing similar methods for the insurance industry, DeGraide and Astonish have created a new way for agencies to find, sell and keep prospects and customers.
Japanese insurance agents learned about best practices from U.S. agencies on a recent East Coast tour. Peter van Aartrijk, of Aartrijk Branding Group, and Sue Noda, of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Japan, discuss the visit and what it’s like to be an independent agent in Japan.
Agency consultant Al Diamond of the Agency Consulting Group says a good consultant helps an owner realize his or her own dreams, not the dreams of the consultant. What consultants can be expected to do and how they get paid.
Agency consultant Al Diamond of the Agency Consulting Group cautions agents against shrinking their business even under financial and pricing pressures.
Agency consultant Al Diamond of the Agency Consulting Group with some tips on how insurance agents might capitalize on other industries’ woes.
Agency consultant Al Diamond of the Agency Consulting Group says a properly-constructed compensation plan can re-energize producers who have lost their spark. It works for non-producer employees, too.
Al Diamond is one of the country’s best known and respected agency management consultants. His firm, Agency Consulting Group, Inc., is based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He deals with agencies across the country on issues ranging from operations to mergers to sales and compensation. He is also a Best Practices instructor for the Independent [...]
Agency consultant Al Diamond of the Agency Consulting Group discusses why more people are starting agencies today and why some who left are returning to the business.
Agency Management Done Right is an audio podcast hosted by Mitch Dunford exploring various aspects of agency management.
The topic of the fifth episode is growing an agency, and Mitch is joined by Bill Bolton, co-founder of Bolton & Company, the largest and most successful independent insurance agency in the country. Topics of conversation include Bolton’s [...]
The alternative energy market has many complicated angles to it, including solar warranties, which are essential to solar manufacturers as well as to the development and funding of solar projects.
According to Mike McMullen, president of PowerGuard Specialty Insurance Services, banks are hesitant to lend against some larger solar projects because of the severe credit [...]
Engle Martin & Associates is an independent adjusting firm providing claims services to the insurance industry. In this interview with Claims Journal, Susan Froman, Engle Martin’s Director of Sales, discusses the growth of the company and providing service to their clients when they need it most.
Too often agency principals find themselves facing a forced sale as a result of not having a proper perpetuation plan. In this podcast, MarshBerry president John Wepler discusses the many difficult and “uncomfortable” decisions required of an owner seeking to properly–and profitably–perpetuate the firm. Listen to this frank conversation as John offers some good news: [...]
The Internet makes it easier to get into business but it also makes it easier to steal others’ ideas. The Web is also expanding the notion of what materials, images and designs need to be protected. Intellectual property attorney David Branfman advises agents on questions to ask clients about intellectual property exposures and warns about [...]
Moving companies face a number of exposures in their daily operations, including workers compensation, cargo, fleet and general liability. Priority Moving in San Diego, Calif. is no exception. A Wheaton Van Lines agent, Priority Moving has created a series of internal procedures, reinforced by a strong employee screening process and training program. Analytics software [...]
Stroz Friedberg is a consulting firm that does computer forensics, mobile phone forensics, electronic discovery and cyber crime response, operating at the intersection of law, technology and behavioral sciences. David Garrett, managing director of Stroz Friedberg’s San Francisco office, explains why clients may or may not have cyber risk insurance, whether those that have the [...]
Corporate Helicopters is a San Diego business focusing on charter, tours, aerial filming and helicopter sales. In this episode of Watching the Risks, Corporate Helicopters president Ivor Shier explains how looking through the lens of risk analysis from the formative years to the present has led to a safer company.
Interview with HealthOne Family Benefit Plans VP of Business Development, Scott Asarch, at
Part of the job of any CEO is to help prepare his or her company for tough times like now. Newly-named Farmers Insurance CEO F. Robert Woudstra talks about how Farmers prepared for the current downturn. He says the CEO can’t have all the answers — he has to listen to others.
On Point with Peter van Aartrijk and Rick Morgan is an audio conversation with insurance industry leaders who champion change and challenge all of us to think.
In the seventh episode, Peter and Rick take time to discuss how trends in communication are effecting branding and marketing within the industry.
Driven by sound underwriting, the property casualty insurance industry performed well in 2006,