American Agent & Broker October 2008
Features
When it Comes to Automation...Just Do It!
I decided several years ago to improve our agency's efficiency and profitability by embracing technology. During that time we've been able to decrease our staff by more than half (fortunately, through natural attrition) yet
Features
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Crooks Tour: Preventing Car Lot Thefts With Serious Security
Walk past a car dealership's lot and the first thing you notice is row after row of shiny vehicles. The visual display is a free advertisement designed to attract attention. The goal is to have plenty of choices for potential buyers who
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Economic Trends Spurring Growth in Marine Insurance
Swedish furniture maker Ikea recently announced plans to build a 930,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Danville, Va. Weighing heavily on its decision was the cost of shipping its furniture to the U.S., which, in some cases, exceeded the
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Nail Down Construction Business With Extra Coverages
The construction industry is facing tough times as land remains undeveloped and unfinished buildings and homes dot the national landscape. The excess and surplus lines market, which has been home to the
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Agents, Start Your Engines: Motor Carrier Coverage Can Deliver Big Payloads
In the World War II movie comedy Operation Petticoat, submarine supply officer Tony Curtis disappears during an enemy air raid on a remote base. His reason: "In confusion, there is profit." While most saw only the danger of the enemy
Columns
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For the Manager: Family Ties Can Strangle Your Agency's Potential
Family businesses often fall short of their potential and even fail to perpetuate because blood is sometimes too thick for the benefit of the business. In family-run agencies, rewards are often given to the
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Down to Cases: "Sliding" Can Cause You to Lose a License
Charging applicants for a specific ancillary coverage or product without their informed consent is a violation of Florida statutory law and can cause an insurance agent to lose his or her license. In the
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Policy Issues: The Scary World of Condo Unit Coverage
How appropriate that in this month of goblins and ghosts, a spectre from the past has arisen to remind me of nightmares long buried and fears long suppressed.I speak, Ebeneezer, of Condominium Unit Owner coverages.
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Agency Technology: How to Save Yourself Before Your Computer Crashes
Writing a regular technology column is an interesting challenge. While there is certainly no shortage of new technology marvels to write about, the challenge is to bring a fresh perspective to technology topics
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Strictly Sales: Know Your Prospects and Establish the Rules
Have you ever looked at your prospect list and asked yourself: Why are all these names still on there? How long have these names been on there? What can I do to get them off this list? As we take a serious look at
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Editorial: Let's Stick to Our Knitting
So insurance is boring, eh? Not recently. As I write this for our October edition, the industry is still digesting the fact that financial giant AIG, long known as the 800-pound gorilla among global insurers,
Departments
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Getting Personal: The Coastal Coverage Challenge
Writing insurance in the coastal areas of the United States always seems to present more of a challenge to agencies than writing similar policies in non-coastal areas. Is this because it is by nature harder to write
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Agency Success Story: Road to Success-N.J. agency paves the way with a strong employee base
When you are growing a business and establishing a name, everything depends on the people that are on the frontlines, supporting your organization. This is the foundation on which the Scirocco Group is built.John
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Avoiding Errors & Omissions: Been There, Done That...The Importance of Reasonable Care and Diligence
I am an insurance industry brat. I grew up in the industry, occasionally working in my father's agency on school vacations or when I needed extra spending money. After graduating college, I thought it would be
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Legislative Roundup: Insurance on the Campaign Trail
The months before a pivotal presidential election is the time when the editors of industry publications actively seek articles that predict how insurance issues will play out if one or the other candidate is elected.
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The Last Word: Get On Board or Get Out of the Way
In today's challenging marketplace, it is easy to blame all the problems of insurance intermediaries on the soft cycle or the underlying economic uncertainty, from unemployment to the mortgage crisis. But
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Industry IQ
Where Do Good Employees Come From? While many small businesses are reacting to tough times by cutting costs, one area you shouldn't skimp on is in hiring and retention. Consultant Laura Harris, CLU, CIC and
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