On the Level features Jamie Deapo and Steve Ruchman bringing us the views of the two major P/C insurance agents’ associations, in alternate issues. Both Jamie and Steve are strong voices for the independent agent and dedicated advocates for the respective approaches of their associations.
Recently many independent agents breathed a sigh of relief as Google announced they were withdrawing from insurance. This news was definitely a positive and welcomed by everyone currently in the insurance business. This is not a time for independent agents to get lax or cocky! Although Google has decided to withdraw, that doesn’t mean they […]
Sometimes rules that are created to address a real problem have unintended consequences. Such is the case with New York’s Joint Commission on Public Ethics, widely known as “JCOPE.” Late in January, JCOPE voted for an advisory opinion to expand the definition of lobbying to include communications between public relations firms and journalists. So, if […]
When I was very young many, many years ago there was a cartoon called the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show about a flying squirrel and a moose. There was a segment on the show called Aesop & Son patterned after Aesop’s Fables, which were fictional stories that had a truth built into them and ended with […]
I hope everyone had a good holiday season. I had one of ups and downs. At the beginning of the season, we needed to replace our air conditioning unit, so we called an HVAC contractor. Several men came, replaced the broken AC and tested the air ducts to make sure the correct flow took place. […]
If I had one wish for 2016, it would be that independent agents make a resolution to better communicate their value. It seems like a simple thing but is actually quite involved and touches every aspect of their business. I say communicate instead of advertise or market because today’s consumer, especially millennials, don’t want to […]
The holidays crept up on many of us this year, but not on PIANY: The association surveyed its members and held focus groups by way of Advisory Councils in October to pinpoint the issues members want their association to focus on—issues that impact our businesses every day. And, once those were identified, PIA volunteers took […]
Do you believe this? Why not, it’s the title of my article so it must be true. The point is, just because someone writes an article or references survey information it doesn’t mean their prediction will come true. What does happen is that many independent agents reading the headline or the article take it at […]
We are coming to the time of year when we take stock of all we’ve just endured and look forward to the year to come. Much has taken place in 2015; certainly more than I could write about in a single article. So, as we reflect, let’s consider what I think is the most overlooked […]
Fall is here. The weather’s changing. Snow and cold are just around the corner. Thanksgiving and the Holidays will soon be upon us. 2015 is drawing to a close. Insurance agents have other things on their minds this time of year. January renewals, year-end loss ratios and contingency checks to name a few. They also […]
Every other year, the PIA affiliates managed from Glenmont (PIA of Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York) conduct the oldest and largest survey measuring agents’ opinions of their carriers’ performance. As they say in sports, this is a “bi-year” for PIA’s Company Performance Survey. So, the associations conducted the Benchmark Survey to make sure that next year’s Company Performance Survey will measure the items that are most important to agents.
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