Nordhaus

For anyone interested in the Insurance Agency business in the 80’s and 90’s the name George Nordhaus, marketing pioneer and great advocate of independent agents, will join us in mourning his passing at age 90 on April 24th.
We were privileged to have “partnered” with George in the production of his agency newsletter directed at insureds for their various commercial and personal needs.
He was an exciting man to work with, from his perch n Santa Monica California – he lived in the home that belonged to Lawrence Welk and bettered him in entertaining. He drove a Rolls Royce and lived for the agency business that helped him afford it.
It was an experience to be in that car. In fact, I remember John LaValle – legendary former NY State IIAA executive (George had served as Indiana’s state exec for IIAA early in his career) getting in and having George ask him, “Hey John, ever been driven around in a Rolls before?” to which JDL answered: “Yes, but not in the front seat!” George used that story again and again.
George founded IMMS Insurance Marketing & Management Services in the 1970s. He developed innovative marketing solutions for the industry, brought together players throughout the distribution system at his annual gala, and interviewed – literally – thousands of industry leaders.He brought the Silver Plume software forward and formed Agencies Online and later the USA Insurance Network.
George was hailed for entrepreneurial spirit, and his desire to create, revise, create and revise again to get the product and service perfect.
He wrote many books, spoke at just about every form of agency gathering in the US, had a seat at Lloyd’s. won multiple awards including, induction into the Insurance Hall of Fame, and Insurance Marketing Communications Association Golden Torch Award.
He is survived by his wife Sue Nordhaus, his brother Jack whose writings and editorial work bolstered the business of intermediation, Jack’s wife Pat Crosson, a daughter Melinda Wunder (husband Tom), granddaughter Julia Wunder, and step-daughter and step-son, Monique and Jon Martin.
He will long be remembered as the believer in the independent agency system who worked hard to make it work. RIP / SA

California loses State Farm
No good news from California these days. No new writing in HO for State Farm in California. Stopped cold. GEICO cannot get rates ok’d, the CDI – (its department of insurance ) seems cloyed in dealing with what it sees as root sources, but has not succeeded in getting insurers to stray or to enter the state. It is not all their fault to be fair, there are dire circumstances – wild fires and the rest. Some of it is driven by crazy social policy, some by inertia, some by mother nature and some by mission drift in government bodies. We are taugh to love the sinner and hate the sin, but here the lines are not clear all the time – that is, the sinners seem purposeful, as they change society – the rules – for ridiculous and undesirable gains that have clearly harmful implications for the citizenry. Take a ride around SFO as we did recently. The State Farm message resounds trumpet like everywhere it seems but in Sacramento. Sad to see regulators in a bind and the great state that the world loved plagued by experimentation with social changes.
Gentlemen, prepare your briefcases…
According to a survey conducted by Zelros of more than 1,000 people across the US, Canada, and Europe, 43% of people do not have life insurance policies.
• Men have 9.4% more life insurance than women.
• 35-44 year olds represent the age group with the most life insurance coverage at 62.5%
• 25-34 year olds have the least coverage, at only 50.5% (even less than those younger than 25).
Opportunity is knocking with a sledge hammer.