Podcasts
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‘Uncomfortable Change’ Paves Road to Perpetuation
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: [...]
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No Quick Fix
In this Podcast Doug Pullman, a member of the Parker, Smith & Feek marketing team, describes the planning and process this top 100 broker went through to prepare for their launch into the world of Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and blogging. Doug discusses the very deliberate and measured approach the brokerage took, the importance of getting [...]
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Wild Wind and Rain: The Texas Coastal Insurance Challenge
Hurricane Ike on Sept. 13, 2008, stormed into Texas near Galveston, leaving behind billions of dollars in property damage in its wake. One insurance company that took the hardest of hits in terms of claims from that storm is the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, which was pummeled with $1.8 billion in claims.
Previous to the 2008 [...]
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Social Networking is not a Silver Bullet
Listen to agency owner Claudia McClain explain why even in today’s social media world success involves more than just putting up a Facebook Fan Page. Claudia explains how her agency has continued to grow and prosper even in this difficult economic time. Her secret – an agency culture built around strong customer service and a [...]
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The Wisdom of Small Accounts
Go small or go home: That’s one way of surmising the business strategy of Earl O’Garro Jr., who is something of an anomaly in the wholesale insurance business. The 27-year-old CEO recently launched Hybrid Insurance Group, a new E&S brokerage in Connecticut with the goal of specializing in smaller accounts. His thought? It’s sounder and [...]
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Why Florida Insurers Need Rate Hikes
Joseph Petrelli, president of the actuarial services firm Demotech, which rates many of Florida’s insurers, analyzes the Florida property/casualty insurance marketplace, discusses his own company’s experiences rating carriers, and explains why Florida insurers need to be able to raise premiums now.
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Ex Direct Writer Focuses on Marketing and Finds Success As Independent Agent
“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.
Texas agent David Berry has used the marketing lessons he learned from his experiences in the captive agency system to find success as an independent agent. Listen as Berry [...] -
Chemistry Crucial When Mentoring Agents
Career advice from a mentor can propel an agent’s career. Yet mentorships don’t always need to be formalized educational programs, according to Roy Little, president and CEO of the Insurance Educational Association. Whether guidance comes from a natural or unconscious relationship; a deliberate relationship; or formal mentorship program, all types of coaching can be beneficial. [...]
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Consultant Gives a Tentative ‘Thumbs Up’ to Proposed Regulation Overhaul
The UK’s new Chancellor (Finance Minister) George Osborne has announced plans to fundamentally reform the way financial services, including insurance, are to be regulated.
Essentially, Osborne’s government plans to dismantle the current tripartite regulatory system, eventually abolish the Financial Services Authority [FSA], and place all financial regulation under the control of the Bank of England.
These are [...]
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A Renewed Energy
“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.
Peter and Rick discuss the renewed energy and engagement they are seeing across the industry. For example, at the recent ACORD conference they noticed many new vendors and lots [...] -
Latin Agents Group Launched in New York
The country’s Hispanic population is growing fast, and that’s created a need for insurance agents who understand the intricacies of serving Latin customers. It’s a need that has prompted a group of agents in New York to launch a new trade group, The Latin Agents and Brokers Association, aimed educating agents on the nuances of [...]
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The Definition of Retirement Has Changed
“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.
Sharon Emek, President and CEO of WAHVE.
Listen to Sharon as she shares her vision for this new company with Rick and Peter.
The definition of retirement has changed. Consider two [...]
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Legal Woes When Employees Leave
The insurance industry is a competitive market, even when it comes to its workforce. It’s no secret, there’s a shortage of highly-qualified insurance professionals at all levels of the industry. And recent news about 100-plus employees leaving CRC Insurance to possibly work for a competitor highlights the employee shortfall even more. In this interview, we [...]
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It’s No Longer An Experiment
“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.
Ryan Hanley, is an Independent Agent with the Gilderland Agency in Albany, NY.
Just two short years ago Ryan started his insurance career and at the same time started [...] -
CAA Producer Development Program: A Partnership Experience
The Texas-based agency network, Combined Insurance Agents of America, or CAA, began experimenting five years ago with a program to assist and train producers exclusively for the agency partners within CAA.
In a recent conference call with Insurance Journal’s Stephanie K. Jones, CAA members discussed the evolution of what eventually became known as its producer [...]
Featured
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Markets in Motion: Solar Manufacturer Warranties
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 [...] -
Excellent Claims Service when Clients Need it Most
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.
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‘Uncomfortable Change’ Paves Road to Perpetuation
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: [...]
Popular
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Get Smart About Insuring Intellectual Property
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 [...]
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Risk Management’s a Priority for Moving Company
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 [...]
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Cyber Breaks, Insurance and Data Breach Response Advice
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 [...]
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Helicopter Business Revolves Around Safety
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.
Random
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The Big ‘I’ on Capitol Hill, Interview with IIABA’s Bob Rusbuldt
Part 1: Game Plan Vs. Spitzer
In Part 1 of a 3-part interview with Insurance
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CNA Watching, Waiting On Washington Reforms
With the debate on healthcare reform in Washington focused in part on the repeal of the antitrust exemption for medical malpractice insurers, we asked Thomas Motamed, CNA Financial’s CEO and chairman, what effect he thinks it might have on the medical malpractice market. In addition to healthcare reform, CNA’s Motamed is keeping his eye on [...]
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Distracted About Insurance Again
A man forgets how much kerosine he puts in his grill while he is thinking about his insurance.
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Myra Lookabill of Insuring the Children
Myra Lookabill is President of Advertising Plus, Inc. in Fullerton, CA, a marketing firm that
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