American Agent & Broker April 2011
Cover Story
Swim Through the Social Web
Since AA&B's December 2009 cover story "Diving Into Internet Marketing," the social media world has gone from a swimming pool to an ocean, with most of your carriers and customers busy on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Are you swimming, sinking or just treading water?
Features
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Public Entities' Growing Risks
Learn about the emerging and more concerning risks for public entities and what can be done to help manage them
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NFIP: The Next Move
The National Flood Insurance Program historically has been subject to constant lapses due to delayed reauthorization, upsetting agent/client relationships and hampering home sales. Now, recent shakeups in Congress could finally mean real reform to the troubled program.
Columns
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Strange Mix
Gaddafi, the economy and other trends have an impact on insurance sales and risk management.
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NAIC Tries to Undercut Surplus Lines Reform
NRRA will become effective in July, but some states will lose money in a compact.
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Beware Estoppel
Confusion over lack of payment leaves insurer liable for coverage
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Care, Custody or Control
Debate rages on the meaning of the exclusion phrase
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A Disciplined Approach
Strict processes for claims and accounting improve agency performance
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Collaborate with Chatter.com
New platform simplifies intercompany partnerships
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Sitting on a "Goal Mind"
To avoid irrelevancy, rethink your dated sales approach
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nGI: Jason Cass
Owner/Agent, JDC Insurance Group
Departments
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IQ: U.S. Population Headed West of Center
The U.S. population is shifting from the Midwest to the West and Southwest.
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IQ: 2010 Could Be Better Year for Small-Business Sales
76 percent of brokers say 2011 is good year to sell.
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IQ: Study Finds Facebook "Friends" Cause Angst
Negative effects of the social media site outweight benefits in terms of staying in touch.
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IQ: Forrester: Insurance Industry Ranks HIgh With Consumers Among Financial Services
Consumers list Insurance-related businesses in 14 of the top 17 firms.
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IQ: Identity Theft, Debt Collection Top FTC's List of Consumer Complaints
19% of complaints are related to identity theft.
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IQ: Recession Creates More Entrepreneurs
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Social Media Success
Safeguards and common sense keep agencies safe in Cyberspace
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Hugh Cotton: Member of the Family
Agency focuses on clients and services in Orlando, Fla., for 63 years
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Payday loans for lawsuits
Burgeoning lawsuit loan industry needs regulation
