American Agent & Broker August 2010
Cover Story
Perfectly Modeled
Find out how catastrophe modeling has come of age during these tumultuous times and how you can use sophisticated new tools to help your customers manage property exposures in an increasingly risky world.
Features
-
Improve Technology Connection to the E&S Industry
Mike Ardis discusses ways to improve technological connections to the E&S industry.
-
The right fit: Find the Best Carrier for Your Specialty Insurance Program
Phillip Gajewski writes on how to find the best carrier for your specialty insurance program.
Columns
-
Time for Vacation- and Hurricanes
The end of the first quarter has already seen a $23 billion in insured losses for global catastrophes, and that's even before hurricane season.
-
Complex Exposures for Complex Times
For agents and brokers who primarily deal with "standard" property-casualty coverages, it is more important than ever to recognize professional liability exposures that may be lurking in even your oldest accounts.
-
Do Agents Owe Clients Fiduciary Duty?
A fiduciary relationship exists between two persons when one of them is under a duty to act for or to give advice for the benefit of another upon matters within the scope of the relation, such as a trustee or executor.
-
What Would Steve Jobs Do?
Chris Amrhein writes about what the consumer wants and how the industry should provide for the customer, such as ATT&T after caving and giving its customers a free upgrade when the new iPhone hit stores.
-
You Can't Manage What You Can't Measure
Philip Lieberman writes about how to improve processing business in the insurance industry.
-
There's Gold in Them Thar Hills
Rick Gilman discusses how to prospect for clients and how to use technology as a source to get new customer's attention.
-
Consistency is Key for Sales Success
Kenneth Fields explains why consistent producers who have a plan make new sales, despite the soft market.
-
nGI: Colleen Giles-Harris
Corporate Manager, Commercial Lines Underwriter R.W. Scobie, Midwest General Agency
Departments
-
RMS: Social Networking Key to Calculating Terrorism Risk
The insurance industry can expect a 12 percent drop in annual insured losses next year compared with this year.
-
Americans Optimistic About Finances in 2011
Fewer people expect their finances to get worse within the next year.
-
33 States Continue to Lose Jobs Since 2000
Thirty-three states have fewer private-sector jobs today than 10 years ago.
-
Startups Behind Net Job Growth
Startups maintain stable job creation even during recession periods.
-
CIAB Survey Predicts Soft Market to Continue
Average premium rates for the second quarter of 2010 declined 6.4 percent. This compares with the previous month's decline of 5.3 percent.
-
Meet and Document Customer's Rreasonable Expectations
Matthew Marrone provides steps for policy inception and renewal that will go a long way toward meeting and documenting insured's expectations of coverage.
-
What are the Odds?
Debora Hiller offers six steps to develop and implement a financial plan for property-casualty clients.
-
Doing Fine in Fargo
A success story profiling Warner & Co., an independent agency based in Fargo, North Dakota.
-
Taking Stock of 2010 State Legislative Sessions
Overall, on a nationwide basis, the 2010 state legislative session was a bit quieter than expected by many insurer representatives.
