THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2010 

                                                Big “I” National News

Big “I” News
Submit 2010-2011 Big “I” Committee, Task Force and Board Nominations Now
National association seeks agents to serve as volunteer leaders.

The perpetuation of IIABA’s strong committees/task forces/boards is very important in planning for the business activities of the year ahead. IIABA seeks qualified agents to serve on its committees task forces/boards. In addition to the nomination recommendations sought from state associations, and, in an effort to broaden our outreach, we invite agents interested in serving on IIABA committees/task forces/boards to submit their own committee/task force/board appointment nomination form. If you have not been previously been active at the national level of the association, consider getting involved now, including young agents and multicultural agents. If you are interested in being considered for a committee/task force/board appointment, please complete a separate committee/task force/board appointment nomination form for each committee/task force you are interested in serving on and submit each form electronically (click here) by April 23, 2010. The 2010-2011 Big “I “committee/task force/board descriptions are available to members who log on to www.independentagent.com under Legal Advocacy, Governance & Member Info., Committees/Task Forces/Programs. If you have questions about a particular committee/task force/board, contact Cathy Spencer (cathy.spencer@iiaba.net).


Big I Advantage^®
Big I Advantage^® Virtual Risk Consultant Gets Rave Reviews 
Tool helps generate sales while lowering E&O liability.

The ability for agencies to increase sales while lowering their exposure to E&O claims have Big “I” members from across the country flocking to purchase the Big I Advantage^® Virtual Risk Consultant Powered by Rough Notes (VRC).

“I just recently found out about the VRC and purchased it. For only $250, no agency in America should be without this product,” says Big “I” member Randy Lanoix of Lanoix Insurance Agency in Lutcher, La. “Times are tough right now for agencies but purchasing the VRC really is a no-brainer! It is resource that will give our agency a competitive advantage by increasing the knowledge and professionalism of our producers and CSRs and helping us better serve our clients.”

Starting at $250 a year, the VRC is an easy-to-use agency resource Web site offering:

Risk Exposure Analysis Tools
Commercial and personal risk exposure analysis information is at your finger tips with hundreds of industries including narrative descriptions, minimum coverages and suggested WC, ISO GL, SIC and NAIC codes. The popular “coverages applicable” material, customized questionnaires and E&O coverage checklists are also included.

Reference and Proposal Tools
Reference materials to make sure agency staff understands the product they are selling and help create winning proposals. Included are access to ACORD forms, PF&M and a glossary of insurance terms.

Marketing and Prospecting Tools
The tool offers access to articles on various insurance topics agencies can share with customers, post on their Web sites, or use to create a client newsletter. There are also hundreds of professionally-written building business letters so you can spend more time selling and less time writing.

Gain a competitive advantage by purchasing the exclusive VRC today. Visit www.iiaba.net/VRC to learn more, view a product demo and purchase.


Trusted Choice^®
Hare & Rathke Named Trusted Choice^® Agency of the Month
Texas agency capitalizes on the brand in one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities.

The Hare & Rathke Insurance Group, headquartered in Humble, Texas, has been named the Trusted Choice® Agency of the Month by Trusted Choice^®.

“We are proud to announce that for exemplifying the Trusted Choice^® Pledge of Performance and setting an extraordinary example of ‘Living the Brand,’ the Hare & Rathke Insurance Group is our Agency of the Month,” says Dave Evans, Trusted Choice^® executive director. “Hare & Rathke has a proven track record in exceeding clients’ expectations of service and expertise.”

The Hare & Rathke Insurance Group entered the Humble and greater Houston, Texas area in early 2009 and was founded by Scott Hare and Ron Rathke. Having previously owned and operated independent agencies in the Fort Worth and Arlington, Texas area since 1995, (formally known as Ron Rathke Insurance and Peoples Insurance). The agency provides both personal and commercial insurance products including:  homeowners insurance, auto insurance, life insurance and a variety of other products.

“It’s an exciting time for our agency to be in the middle of the second fastest growing city in the nation,” says Scott Hare, Hare & Rathke Insurance Group co-founder and president. The Humble, Atascocita and Kingwood area was just named the second fastest growing area in the United States and first in Texas by Gadberry Group. “We appreciate this opportunity to help the business community, along with local residents, make great insurance choices. I can’t think of a better time or place to be part of such a strong and growing community, and to receive recognition from the Trusted Choice^® brand is an honor.”

The Trusted Choice^® Agency of the Month program recognizes those Trusted Choice^® agencies that are going above and beyond in living the tenets of the Trusted Choice^® Pledge of Performance and in communicating the benefits of their services to consumers.


Big “I” Markets
Non-standard Homeowners Success
Agents find answers for clients with prior losses or lapsed coverage.

Big “I” Markets agent Paul Lefebvre of the Paul James Insurance Agency in Tampa, Fla., knows that when he needs a market for a high value home that the insurance lapsed for non-pay, he can access the affluent non-standard product on Big "I" Markets.

"A main-line carrier was non-renewing the policy on a home with $1.7 million of coverage A because the insured had let it lapse," says Paul. "The insured was having a difficult time placing the business but I had used Big 'I' Markets before for some other business and remembered the non-standard homeowner market, so I gave it a try." Paul was able to place the business and collect the $8,519 premium. "Once the insured has established an insurance history I hope to be able to place the risk in the admitted market at renewal," explains Paul.

More than 1,400 quote requests were submitted on Big "I" Markets last year for non-standard property risks. If you have a high end home that you are having trouble placing due to prior losses, lapsed coverage or any other reason, remember that you have access to an affluent homeowner non-standard product to meet the specific needs of the high end market. Here is a listing of those markets. Learn more about how to access this market and dozens of others with no access fees and no minimum volume commitments at www.bigimarkets.com.


Big “I” Markets
Marine Market Available
Problem placements find a home on Big “I” Markets.

Big “I” Markets agent Lauren Bowman of the Vreeland agency in Rockaway, N.J. recently bound a boat on Big “I” Markets that she had trouble placing elsewhere.

"My client had a boat that was over 26 feet with a prior loss and I could not place it anywhere," Lauren says. "I had tried six other markets without success. My manager suggested I try Big 'I' Markets and it worked out. Chris Caron was my underwriter and he provided great service."

Not only did Lauren place the business, but she said the premium of $2,288 was close to what the client had been paying with comparable coverage.

The Premier Marine Market is offered through MiddleOak^®, and is available in CT, DE, FL, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT and WI. The other marine market, available from Ski- Safe/Sea-Safe, is in all 50 states and offers instant quoting on most types of "standard" boats, but will also manually quote most any kind of risk. SkiSafe/Sea-Safe also writes Sea-Doos, jet skis and other types higher risk recreational vehicles, and coverage is provided against fire, theft and any accidental damage, whether the boat is in or out of the water. A trailer can also be insured, and there is no exclusion for latent defects. Learn more about how to access this market and dozens of others with no access fees and no minimum volume commitments at www.bigimarkets.com.