Insurance Assurance℠

January 2010
Issue 113 Since the Year 2000

New Year - Same Advice

One single thing you can do to improve your insurance program is to meet with your insurance agent.

Meet with your insurance agent annually to review your coverage, catch him or her up on changes in your business, and talk about hazards.

Your agent should provide you with a coverage summary and a report of losses. Talk about where your business has been and where you plan to go. Are you considering mergers or acquisitions? Is a new product line being considered? Are you planning new locations or buying new equipment? Are you discontinuing any operations?

What does your agent intend to do in preparation for your current policy renewals? What strategies will control your costs while improving protection?

Let the agent know of risks you’re concerned with. Look at your loss record. What can the agent do to help? Find out what services the agent offers that can assist with problem areas. Learn what services your insurer offers.

Skype Me - Video Too

Desktop video conferences have reached a place where I think it makes sense in business. I'm offering video conferences and calls with clients. My Skype contact is Scott.Simmonds. The technology also allows us to share documents and desktops. It is proving to be a great tool.

Coinsurance Video

A quick hit on property insurance coinsurance in my YouTube video - go here.

New Book Shop

As the number of books and products I have for sale grew, I knew that I would ultimately need a more robust store-front. Take a look at www.InsuranceBookShop.com to see the new site.

Bank Insurance Teleseminar Series Recordings

Last month I conducted 5 teleseminars for bankers. I covered almost every aspect of insurance for people who buy insurance for their banks. Get the recordings here.

Employment Practices Liability Insurance Exclusions

EPLI policies routinely exclude a number of employment-related actions from coverage including:

-Workers' compensation claims.

-ERISA actions.

-Employment wage disputes (Fair Labor Standards Act).

-Unemployment Insurance.

-Disability benefits law.

-National Labor Relations Act.

-Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.

-Occupational Safety and Health Act.

For Insurance Professionals

Though I write this newsletter for insurance buyers, I know that a fair percentage of my readers are insurance people. This section of the newsletter is for that segment of my subscribers...

I regularly get comments from insurance people that I am hard on insurance agents. I don't accept the criticism.

There are some great insurance agents out there. There are also some horrid agents. I have no tolerance for agents who fail their clients. I have great respect for the profession of insurance sales. It is part of the reason I'm so hard on the slackers.

Agents, you owe your client your best knowledge and advice. Your job is to improve your client's condition.

To that end, several years ago I started a mentor program to help insurance people improve their performance - for their sake and that of their clients.

Insurance professionals looking for information on my services and products for insurance professionals should go to www.ICMentor.com.

Sales Help For Insurance Agents

I probably buy more insurance than anyone else in the US. I also sold insurance for 20 years. I get calls every week from insurance agents struggling. Its no secret that while this newsletter is designed for insurance buyers, more than half my subscribers are insurance people. My monthly personal productivity column appears in Insurance Journal. I post to insurance chat rooms and insurance agent forums. I hear from many agents looking for a better way.

I recently finished my Six Figure Insurance Commission System to help insurance agents sell more insurance and build better client relationships.

Learn More Here

Insurance Assurance℠ Workbooks

A few months ago I announced my Insurance Assurance℠ Workbooks as an effective way for small businesses to judge and improve the quality of their insurance programs without spending thousands to hire me. The response has been amazing.

At $99, the digital edition is proving to be very popular.

The idea is simple. Insurance buyers have trouble coming up with the right questions to ask their agents. My workbook gives them the questions, along with insight into the coverages that are important to consider.

Business Insurance Audit Toolkit - For Small and Medium Sized Organizations of All Types. Digital and Softcover Editions

Bank Insurance Audit Toolkit - For Bankers Who Manage Their Bank's Insurance. Digital and Softcover Editions

Insurance Help Topics Blog - WWW.InsuranceAssuranceBlog.com

Get the Recording of My Time Mastery Teleseminar - Go To My Store

www.BankInsuranceBlook.com. - The blog version of my book, Simmonds on Bank Insurance. A comprehensive buyer's guide for bankers who buy insurance for their banks.

www.WorkCompBlook.com. - Blog version of Simmonds on Workers' Compensation Insurance. How to manage and buy workers' compensation insurance. Filled with information to control your work comp costs.

Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Scott Simmonds, CPCU, ARM, CMC
Consulting On, Never Selling, Insurance

Providing Unbiased Insurance Assurance

Phone: 207-284-0085
Skype: Scott.Simmonds
Fax: 802-992-4027

Scott@ScottSimmonds.com
www.ScottSimmonds.com

www.InsuranceAssuranceBlog.com

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