Defense attorneys owe their main allegiance to policyholders. Failure to recognize and navigate around this issue can expose adjusters, insurers and TPAs to bad faith claims.

Calling on clients is another way for adjusters to personalize their claims service

Defense-within-limits policies have been called cannibalizing or self-liquidating policies, but they provide important limits for insurers and policyholders.

Don't look now, but best practices are the rage. However, they can be a two-edged sword for companies that don't follow them.

What skills do adjusters need for professional success in 2014? Certainly, technical skills are a must. This includes a working knowledge of law, medicine, construction, insurance policy content and interpretation, and subject-matter expertise specific to the claims they handle. Aside from technical skills, though, successful adjusters need soft skills.

Modern adjusters need more than just technical ability. They also need to know how to work with people.

Modern adjusters need more than just technical ability. They also need to know how to work with people.

In his new book, Average is Over, Tyler Cowan maintains that America is dividing itself into two main groups: At the top will be 10 to 15 percent of achievers, whose self-motivation and mastery of technology will allow them to soar into the future. Then there will be, well, everyone...