Certain Revelations

My “ah-ha” moment! Barry Zalma's September column “CertUncertainty” correlates to a recent epiphany I had aboutcertificates of insurance/endorsements. I've started developing amethod to address this “ silent but deadly” issue we have withproviding insurance certificates. I've done the research, studiedthe court judgments and read the blogs about certs and theuncertainty of this costly agency process. Agents are starting totake notice of the legal ramification of improperly producedcertificates of insurance. I would like to share my solution withyou and ask you to be an advisor to its development. I have twoother industry veterans and key experts on this matter advising mecurrently and I believe your expertise would be invaluable to thisproject. I'm so excited about it because it's a definite way ofthinking outside the “proverbial” box that our industry is soaccustomed to doing, yet we can possibly solve this issue for allstakeholders if the right support for this system isgalvanized.

Herbert E.Gibson
Southfield, Mich.

Amhrein's Livin' on the Edge

I just read Chris Amhrein's article “Livin'Large” (AA&B November 2011) on lifestyleprotection and had to write to thank you for continually makingreading about insurance enjoyable. In what other place could onesee references to Eric Clapton's “Crossroads,” “Burn Notice,” “CoolHand Luke” and the Bee Gees in the same breath as the Boca RatonClub and Frank Sinatra, all in the context of documenting thevirtues of placing proper insurance coverage?

Bravo for years of making insurance interesting, if not “fun.”You are definitely the banquet in an industry filled with plainturkeys.

JimKarjalainen
Grand Blanc, Mich.

Smart and right support

After reading the editorial in the December 2011 AmericanAgent & Broker (“What'sSmart and What's Right” by Laura Mazzuca Toops), I just had towrite to express my admiration of your bravery in standing up fordoing what's right as well as what's smart. I did not read yourarticle on the risk management aspects of the Penn State scandal.However, your response in the editorial to the critics inspired meas nothing else has lately. Your editorial remarks brought a littleray of sunshine into what sometimes seems like a cold and gloomyworld of political correctness and misplaced tolerance. Pleasecontinue to promote doing what's right as well as what's smart.

BrendaTranchina
Metairie, La.

Two opinions on two associations

I have read the observations on Laura's blog regardingquestioning the need for two associations representing agents(“DoAgents Need Two Trade Associations?” Nov. 3, 2011). I have beenin this business for more than 45 years and this issue has beendiscussed that entire time. A No. 1 need that an agents'association should and can help with is educating the public onwhat professional independent agents bring to the table. Thisrequires advertising, which we all know is expensive. However, wecan collectively accomplish much more together than we canindividually.

There appears to be a declining enrollment in bothorganizations. I along with many of my peers perceive that there ismore interest in maintaining their respective bureaucracies thanfurthering the interests of their membership. This is not to saythat they haven't developed some excellent resources, but many ofthese are either at a charge or, in the case of insurance productsat a reduced commission to benefit and maintain the organization'soffices.

I don't believe many agents see relevancy in what theorganizations do and provide and thus they do not belong. Twoorganizations, with all of the duplications that implies, intoday's world of falling market share is no longer affordable.

Peter M. BakkerSr.
Avon, Conn.

As for the future of the agent associations? All I can say isthat they have to demonstrate real value, and other thanlegislative advocacy, right now I don't see either one providinganything of real tangible value. The PIA has their agenda, and theBig “I” local chapters stopped meeting decades ago. Aside from anannual meeting and trade show, we don't see much more activity fromeither one.

At least the Big “I” is working on branding with the TrustedChoice initiative, and now introducing the Agent Portal program. Ibelieve the PIA offers agent training and is much more effective tothat end. The Big “I” with its Legislative Conference is muchbetter organized than the PIA on the national level, but the PIA isactive in state legislatures. That being said, I wish they remainseparate so as to offer choice. Each has their strong points, butin the end there is only so much an association can do with itslimited funds and statutorily restricted charters.

Paul K. Improta, AAI, LUTCF,CIC
Bethel, Conn.