I was recently telling a friend about some difficulty my company was having in filling an open adjuster position. He asked me what qualities an adjuster needed to possess to do his or her job well. He got me thinking about the many tools needed to be a competent adjuster.

People skills — Adjusters are regularly thrust into meetings and conversations with people they have never met before, some of whom can be quite confrontational. A good adjuster is able to diffuse problems and create successful working relationships. This includes policyholders, claimants, witnesses, attorneys and public adjusters.

Analytical skills — Adjusters need to be able to gather facts, evaluate damage, interpret information, analyze insurance coverage and perform many duties requiring high-level critical thinking.

Adjusters are asked to prepare detailed estimates of repair, take thorough statements to obtain all needed facts, to identify the cause of a loss and how the policy applies.

Organizational skills — Adjusters need to find a way to manage their time so they can handle all of their files promptly, get their reports done on time and comply with rules dictated to them by their clients, employer, and even the Department of Insurance.

Attractiveness — this explains all of my problems.

If you are looking for a talented independent adjuster to assist with a claim investigation and adjustment anywhere in the United States, look no further than the National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters. The NAIIA is an association of approximately 300 privately-owned independent loss adjustment firms servicing losses throughout the United States. These firms and adjusters are the cream of the crop.

With multi-line skills and experience, NAIIA member firms investigate and adjust claims for insurers, third-party administrators, self-insured corporations and their defense counsel. NAIIA members strive to provide the best, most reliable and valuable adjusting service possible.

Each NAIIA member is vetted for professional competence, ethical standards and financial viability. Errors & Omissions coverage is required.

The NAIIA was founded in 1937 with the following mission:

Create dignity and invite a feeling of high regard to the business and profession of independent adjusting
Cooperate with the insurance fraternity so a cordial relationship will be fostered and maintained between the independent adjuster and the public
Guide the activities of those engaged in the independent adjusting field so that the highest standard will be encouraged and maintained
Collectively conduct ourselves to protect the business of independent adjusting against any form of activity found to be unjust or detrimental to the insurance fraternity
Hold periodic meetings to share ideas, discuss mutual problems, and attempt to find solutions to matters concerning and affecting both the association and its individual members
Correlate the activities of this association in the interest of the insurance adjusting profession and the public which it serves
Provide the companies relying upon the facilities of independent adjusting the best, most reliable and valuable type of adjusting service possible

Assignments are received via a national toll free Call Center or by contacting an individual office, whichever is easiest for the assigning client.

All reporting is electronic and tailored to the needs of the client. Transmit your assignment for immediate acknowledgement and action by visiting www.naiia.com or by calling the 24/7/365 Call Center at 877-884-0749.

Peter Schifrin is with Schifrin, Gagnon & Dickey, Inc. located in Chatsworth, Calif.

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