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.
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Hartford Exec Andrade Explains Restructuring Impact on Agents
The Hartford has just unveiled a new “customer-centric” strategy that it says will help unlock the value of its books of business in property/casualty as well as life insurance. A cornerstone of that strategy is improving the products, access and sales support for its independent agents. Juan Andrade, president of The Hartford’s Commercial Markets division, [...]
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How San Diego Streamlines Film Industry Insurance
The San Diego Film Commission works to attract entertainment businesses to San Diego. One way it does this is by helping to streamline the insurance buying and risk management process that can involve multiple jurisdictions and unusual risks from helicopters to bungee jumpers, explains Kathy McCurdy, the director of features for the SDFC.
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Flood Fiasco
On Feb. 28, the National Flood Insurance Program lapsed for several days because Congress failed to pass reauthorization. That was just the latest issue for this program that is becoming a major concern for independent agents. Their worries: insufficient coverage, insufficient limits and insufficient leadership in Washington when it comes to this key program. In [...]
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How Green Roofs Are Changing Insurance Claims
Commercial roofing, already complicated, is getting more so as new types and materials are being introduced. Kenneth R. Gilvary, a senior engineer with Dallas-based Haag Engineering, specializes in assessing roof losses for insurers. Gilvary says claims professionals need to keep up with how green technology, including vegetative rooftops, and new building standards are changing the [...]
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New York Agents Blast Pay Disclosure Rules
How much do you get paid? Starting next year, New York insurance agents will have to answer that question to each of their clients, thanks to a new rule enacted by the state’s insurance department. It’s a regulation that will radically reshape how agents deal with their clients, and many agents in the state are [...]
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Tax Problems for Agents
Later this year, tax cuts passed by the Bush administration are set to expire, likely meaning tax increases for many insurance agency owners. Combined with a looming increase in estate taxes in 2011, agents are increasingly worried about what will happen come the end of this year. Charles Symington, senior vice president of government affairs [...]
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Earthquake Insurance for California Homeowners
California residents are no strangers to earthquakes, but what might be surprising is that most homeowners in the state do not have the coverage they need to protect themselves from the potential catastrophic loss these earth tremors could impose on their property. In this interview, Steve Bouker, President and Chief Operating Officer of Arrowhead [...]
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Content is Crucial for Social Media Success
Building a social media presence is critical for independent agents to remain competitive. But insurance carriers like Fireman’s Fund are helping agents venture into this new technical world. John Hosbein, vice president of online services, and Alice Cameron, vice president of marketing, share how agents can create engaging Web 2.0 content.
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Web 2.0 Fuels Growth in Cyber, Privacy Liability Insurance
Cyber and privacy liability insurance is poised for growth, with more players coming into the market to cover a growing number of businesses. Insurance Journal recently spoke with Graeme Newman, CFC Underwriting’s business development director, about increasing data security and privacy risks, given the surge in social media.
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A day in the life of an agency blogger
Adam DeGraide speaks with blogger Josh Wilson. Josh’s enviable job is to browse the Internet to find interesting and unusual nuggets of pop culture to expound upon. The blogger’s goal is to help build relationships via social media and to generate traffic for the independent insurance agencies.
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The Importance of Great Phone Skills
Ken Peterson, CEO of Encharter Insurance knows that driving traffic on the web is good for business, but good marketing doesn’t stop there. In this interview with Tim Sawyer, Peterson talks about beefing up his company’s phone skills in order to make his sales team successful.
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 [...]
-
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 [...]
-
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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It’s been ‘busy but exciting’ for Swiss Re Commercial Insurance Division’s Sterneck
The approximate year and a half since Swiss Re acquired GE Insurance Solutions’ commercial insurance unit has been “busy but exciting,” says Robin Sterneck who heads what is now Swiss Re’s Commercial Insurance Division. In an interview with Insurance Journal’s Stephanie Jones, Sterneck describes some of what she’s expecting going forward in her niche-focused organization, [...]
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The Night Crew
Any agent, broker or program manager will say finding talented staff is a top challenge. Maybe
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NAPSLO Midyear 2004 Richard Polizzi Interview
Mr. Polizzi’s sees the industry continuing to level, but is optimistic. His advice for the
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