THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2010 

                                                Big “I” National News

Big “I” Events
Mark Your Calendars for the Big “I” Fall Leadership Conference
Agents will gather in sunny San Francisco for networking, training and more.

Mark your calendars now for the Big “I” Fall Leadership Conference. The annual fall event will take place Sept. 24-25 at the Fairmont San Francisco. Registration will open in the coming weeks and the line-up includes: Big “I” Education Convocation, for state education directors, Sept. 22-23; Young Agents Leadership Institute, for all young agents, Sept. 24-25 and the Big “I” Board of Directors meeting for state executives, directors and state presidents/chairmen, Sept. 25-26. Stay tuned to www.independentagent.com/events for further details.

Big “I” Virtual University
New EPA Lead Paint Rule Takes Effect
Renovation and repair contractors have to comply with new regulation---is there an insurance angle?

Over the years, there have been numerous recommendations, rules and guidelines which attempted to deal with the problem of existing lead-based paint in homes and other structures. The EPA has usually played a key role in lead paint mitigation efforts. On April 22, 2010, an enhanced lead paint rule took effect which will directly affect renovation and repair contractors. What types of structures and facilities does the lead paint rule apply to? Who must follow the rule? What steps are required for a repair/renovation contractor to comply with the rule? What is the penalty for a firm that does not comply with the EPA rule? Is there an insurance requirement for contractors? The VU has published an article that answers these questions and more. To read the full article, click here. 

Big "I" Employee Benefits
Big “I” Partners with LifeSource
Program offers access dedicated life sales and case management team.

Looking to add “life” to your agency? Could your agency use a boost to its cash flow? Could you use a boost in your income? That's a loaded question as it's hard to imagine anyone answering no. The tougher question is, how?

Big "I" Employee Benefits has teamed up with LifeSource to offer you a full suite of life, disability, annuity and critical care products which, with high first year commissions, are great ways to infuse premium into your agency. LifeSource is more than just a market provider. It offers a dedicated sales and case management team to assist you during the sales process, including development of proposals, dealing with underwriting issues that may arise and getting the case bound. If a perceived lack of product knowledge has made you reluctant to aggressively sell life, disability and annuity products, you only have to ask if your clients are interested in learning more about those products and then pass them on to LifeSource. This is the same way the very successful bond program works.

LifeSource maintains relationships with more than 200 carriers, and they closely partner with a subset of these carriers to offer a product suite with the depth necessary to meet almost any client need. LifeSource's technology-driven insurance distribution solutions include the most advanced Internet-based capabilities and the pre-eminent administration system to support all aspects of processing with multiple insurance companies. For more information, contact Christine Muñoz (christine.munoz@iiaba.net), or if you are ready to quote, submit a request by logging onto Big "I" Markets and selecting Big "I" Employee Benefits LifeSource from the offline product menu.

Big “I” Virtual University
Take Advantage of Online Learning 
Course now available for new employees with no previous insurance experience.

For many people who cannot access traditional learning opportunities, online programs are the best alternative to meeting educational goals. Students usually select online learning because they need one of two things: flexibility to choose when they study, or they need the ability to choose where to study.  Some have multiple work and family obligations and online learning is a way for them to continue their education and develop their career path.  Many select to learn online because they simply don’t have the time during the workday to attend a class across the state or even across town.  The Online Classroom area of the Big "I" University has been developed to provide the insurance industry with quality online education to supplement and enhance traditional learning methods.

Did you know the VU Online courses offer an online New Employee Training Course? Visit your state association’s LearnCenter for specific offerings and to see if the Insurance Agency New Employee Training is available for your staff. This course is suggested for new agency employees with fewer than six months on the job. The course material is designed so that individuals with no previous background in the insurance business can succeed in the class work and develop a basic understanding of the industry. Take a look at the available courses and experience a new way of getting the critical training you need to succeed in your career as an insurance professional. Click here to select your state association, view all the online courses available in the course catalog and get started.

IA Magazine
Personal Auto Peps Up in April IA 
Check out strategies for increasing your personal lines book.

Technology advances, competitive pricing and social media are making personal auto more appealing to agents. Check out the April issue of IA to learn more about what agents around the country are doing to beef up personal lines auto sales and counterbalance the soft commercial market.