THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2010 

                                                Big “I” National News


Big “I” Markets
Take Advantage of New Fine Arts Market 
New stand-alone fine arts and valuable articles policy for personal and commercial risks.

Big "I" Markets is now offering a stand-alone fine arts and valuable articles policy. Offered by QBE Specialty, this program offers tailored products and services for personal and commercial fine art and floater risks.

For personal products, coverage can be designed to meet the client’s needs with different policies available offering the following features:

• Agreed value, current market value or a combination of both with all-risk, worldwide coverage (including breakage and mysterious disappearance).
• No per item limitations.
• Coverage available for personal collections while on loan to museum exhibitions.
• No limitation on packers.
• Consistent approach to loss in value.
• Coverage for the cost of replacing or restoring the identifying labels for wine.
• Comprehensive forms to thoroughly address critical policy features rather than treat them as an afterthought to homeowners insurance.
  

For commercial products, the valuable articles portfolio consists of policies specifically designed for each major category of commercial art collections: corporate collections, museums, exhibitions, dealers and commercial artists. Following a flexible loss limit approach, insureds can select appropriate coverage limits for premises, transit and unnamed locations, both domestically and internationally.

The program offers: 

• Blanket (no per item limit) or scheduled items coverage.
• Actual value or current market value up to 150%.
• $75 million capacity.
• Consideration for any type of collectible including wine, musical instruments, antiques, stamp and/or coin collections, sports memorabilia and collectible figurines.
• Special wine coverage including mechanical breakdown and restoring/replacing damaged labels.
• Optional deductibles available.
• Coverage for breakage and mysterious disappearance.
• Worldwide coverage.
• Admitted carrier in 48 states (not available in AK, DC or HI).
  

To access this product, log on to www.bigimarkets.com and select Stand-Alone Valuable Articles & Fine Arts from the personal lines or commercial lines BIM product menu.


Big I Professional Liability
Learn the Secrets of VRC During Webinar
Session will explain how to better serve customers, increase sales and reduce E&O claims with the Virtual Risk Consultant.

Join staff from the Big “I” E&O risk management team and the Rough Notes Company for a free web conference to explore the benefits of the Big “I” Virtual Risk Consultant (“VRC”) on Wednesday, June 9 at 2:00 p.m. ET. Member agencies from across the country have purchased subscriptions for this exclusive tool that will help your agency better serve customers, increase sales and reduce exposure to costly E&O claims. If you’re looking for risk exposure analysis questionnaires and checklists, the VRC has them.

Gain a competitive advantage from VRC by learning about all the benefits it can bring your agency for as little as $250 per year. In addition to gaining more familiarity with this valuable resource, you will learn how the VRC will help you:

• Increase sales through writing new classes of business and rounding accounts.
• Avoid E&O claims relating to failure to identify exposures and offer coverage solutions.
• Develop a better understanding of your customer’s operation
  and exposures.
• Increase professionalism of agency staff and service to your
  customers.
  

Reserve your webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/447471448.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the Webinar. Space is limited.

System Requirements:
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows^® 7, Vista, XP, 2003 Server or 2000

Macintosh^®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS^® X 10.4.11 (Tiger^®) or newer


Big “I” Virtual University
Big “I” Addresses Market Pushback on New ACORD 25 Certificate of Insurance
Download article to give to third-party certificate requesters that explains the change.

In September 2009, ACORD made significant changes to the ACORD 24 and ACORD 25. The change involved essentially removing notice of cancellation from these certificate forms. This same change was made to all of the other ACORD certificate and evidence forms (ACORD 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, and 28) in December 2009.

Why was this change made? It began with ACORD being pressured by state regulators who had taken the position that notice of cancellation is a policy right, not a voluntary service, and should be governed by the policy. Only filed policy forms can grant policy rights, not certificates. The industry is now starting to see some push-back from third parties on this change, similar to that seen from lenders when the ACORD 27 and ACORD 28 were revised in 2006.

As a result, agents will probably begin receiving demands from certificate requestors to: use older ACORD forms, amend the newer forms (or add addenda) to include cancellation notice, complete proprietary certificate forms or warrant coverages or rights via an “agent affidavit” or “compliance checklist.”

In response, the Big “I” Virtual University has posted an article entitled, “Certificates of Insurance and Notice of Cancellation,” which explains the reasons for the removal of cancellation notice from the ACORD certificates and suggests how agents can respond to requests to use older certificate editions, modify the new forms or issue proprietary certificates.

To help explain the changes to insureds or third-party certificate requesters, download “Why We Are Using the Latest ACORD 25 Certificate of Insurance.” Agents can use the article as is, or modify it for use in your state.

If you have questions, contact Bill Wilson (bill.wilson@iiaba.net), director of the Big “I” Virtual University.


 Best Practices
Step Up Customer Service
Use a Best Practices guide to make sure your agency’s customer service meets the mark.

Take a page from Miss Manners: “True service can only be provided by thinking people, who have the imagination to put themselves in the place of the customer, figuring out what he needs and how it can most easily be done, and who have the largesse and grace to be pleasant about it.”

Great customer service is more than a smile, answering the phone by the third ring, making sure invoices go out and hanging a mission statement in the lobby. But it isn’t rocket science either. Putting yourself in the place of the customer is the first step. What is it your customers want that you may be missing?

Studies show that 52% of all insurance policyholders are relationship buyers. They want to form long-term relationships with an established agent who insures others they know. But have you formed that relationship that is key to their loyalty?

Companies that excel in customer service share common characteristics. How many apply to your agency?

• Know what customers want and ask them to rate your performance.
• Set high customer service standards.
• Commit energy and resources to deliver quality products and customer service.
• Make customer satisfaction the business of all employees, not just the front-line people.
• Hire, train and motivate employees to serve customers well.
• Invest heavily in technology to support customer service.
• Carefully monitor customer evaluations of competitors and closely watch their competitor’s marketplace actions.

Want more ideas on how to implement great customer service?  Download the Best Practices guide, Customer Service Made Simple – An Independent Agent’s Guide to Superior Customer Service.

For more information, contact BestPractices@iiaba.net.


InVEST
Find InVEST on Facebook
Volunteers and supporters can see the program in action through social networking.

InVEST liaisons and volunteers can now connect on Facebook. The program, which is active in 33 states with 37 state champions spearheading new programs daily, is a natural fit for such a social space. Volunteers can share photos, ask questions and stay up to date on the association’s major perpetuation initiative.  Connect with industry professionals and teachers who are dedicated to the perpetuation of the independent agency system and working to develop a talented pool of new recruits. Follow us today!


Big I Advantage^®
Start Writing More Personal Umbrellas
RLI’s new expanded underwriting appetite makes writing personal umbrellas easier than ever.

Take another look at RLI!  See how you can write more business with an admitted, secure, A+-rated carrier…

• New drivers accepted—NO AGE LIMIT ON DRIVERS
• Up to one DWI/DUI per household allowed
• More violations/accidents acceptable
• Auto limits as low as 100/300/50 in certain areas
• Up to 5 locations outside the United States
• Up to 10 properties – 5 rentals allowed
• $1 million to $5 million in additional insurance
• Immediate coverage available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
  

Visit www.independentagent.com/umbrella to learn more about the Big “I” Umbrella Program, or visit www.bigimarkets.com to request a quote.


Young Agents
Leadership Institute Marketing and Social Media Seminar—Make it Your Own!
Got a question about marketing or social media? E-mail it.

A typical event line-up would tell you when and where to be—but how often are you asked for input on programming in advance? The Big “I” Young Agents Leadership Institute is the exception to the rule! Our presenters understand the value of time you spend away from your agency—especially when you’re just starting out. Chris Jordan with Atlanta Insurance Live and Ryan Hanley with Guilderland Agency, Inc., N.Y., want to know what topics they should address in their session, “Young Agent Market Masters Tell All.” Got social media questions?  Want to learn how to boost business using new technology? Send any and all marketing or social media questions to Susan Bonner (susan.bonner@iiaba.net) and the speakers will use them to craft the presentation. The Young Agents Leadership Institute will take place Sept. 24-25 in San Francisco. To learn more, click here.


ACT
Make a Date with ACT Webinars
Hot topics include social media, downloads and Real Time.

To increase market power in a world of iPods, iPads and all mobile devices in between, agents need to understand today’s communication tools. Gurus Chris Jordan of Atlanta Insurance Live and Ryan Hanley of the Guilderland Agency will share the secrets of using tools like YouTube, blogs, Facebook and Twitter to get business. Agents can register for the June 3, 2-3 p.m. ET webinar to learn how to grow their brand using affordable techniques. Back by popular demand, on June 8 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET, AUGIE’s commercial download webinar will outline benefits and tips for successful implementation of this improved, time-saving workflow. Finally, get RealTime by signing up for Save Time & Increase Profits with Real Time on June 9 at 2:00 p.m. ET. This session includes demos and techniques for successful RealTime implementation. Learn more about the the social media tools webinar, AUGIE’s commercial lines download webinar and the Real Time webinar here. Visit  www.independentagent.com/ACT for more information.