Stability.

Hope all of our readers had a pleasant New Year’s break and start 2013 on an optimistic note… In this issue we report on the September 30th industry results which should be encouraging inasmuch as the industry’s strength will allow it to weather, pardon the expression, the efforts of Super Storm Sandy. Again, in shaky economic times people do look to the stability of insurers, the risk management culture that permeates the business and they look to insurance to settle claims swiftly and thoroughly… Up and coming are several events reaching ahead into February as the Associations are planning RAP sessions on Januar 31st (PIANY) and Downstate meetings on February 6th (IIABNY local Associations), and there are seminars, webinars and all manner of events ahead. We believe that the industry has not succumbed – perhaps not yet – to impersonal meetings. There is still a sense that getting together is a good idea, since personal touch remains the ultimate form of successful networking. We will see you at many of these events… We note with sadness the passing of Saul P. Steinberg, former head of Reliance Insurance and a major player in the business for some years. The New York Times obituary on his passing was not entirely charitable or balanced, but did note the extent to which this man influenced the financial and insurance markets and New York social and charitable entities’ successes… Looking ahead to the coming year there will be some small changes in the Insurance Advocate, notably some graphics in the publication, an additional columnist to be named soon; some added features focusing on intermediation and dis intermediation and continued increases in circulation – we trust. The Insurance Advocate enjoys an unparalleled presence in the Tri State area for our paid circulation and for our reach into the minds and hearts of insurance leaders and agency owners; we point for example to the article we ran last year on Ed Higgins’ quest to bring fairness into play with some of the internet advertising processes presented by giant insurers versus the standards of care which agents offer their clients. We continue to receive praise for that stance, for the coverage we give local insurance events and for our intelligent and searching columnists: Peter Bickford, Jerry Trupin, Sari Gabay, Steve Ruchman, Jamie Deapo, Larry Rogak, Richard Amerling, and of course Mike Loguercio rounding out a remarkable lineup of insurance thinkers and observers who are actually on the field of “battle” daily. This column continues to be read and to provoke response for better or for worse. All of this demonstrates that readers do feel a personal relationship with this 123 year old magazine.

Happy reading in 2013, and thank you again for your loyalty.