Weekly Reader Picks: Monday, April 23, 2012

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April 23, 2012 Top 10 for the Past Week 1. 15 Trends in P/C Insurance Employment Apr 16, 2012 -- 15 Trends in P/C Insurance Employment The current P/C insurance employment picture, much like the economic outlook, is mixed. Employers remain cautious about adding to payroll but there are opportunities depending on ... 2. Survey: Why Agents and Customers Choose Higher-Priced Insurers Apr 12, 2012 -- Insurance customers are price-sensitive shoppers, and they have become more so given the financial pressures of the struggling economy. Many observers fear that standard coverage is becoming commoditized to the point ... 3. Alligator Visits Louisiana Motel, Bites Guest Apr 17, 2012 -- Authorities in Louisiana say a 6-foot alligator showed up at the front door of a Super 8 Motel outside Baton Rouge and bit a guest. West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Mike Cazes tells The Advocate his office got the call ... 4. Michigan Governor Signs Bill Making Motorcycle Helmets Optional Apr 17, 2012 -- A decades-long fight to eliminate Michigan's helmet law roared into the victory lane on April 13 when Gov. Rick Snyder announced he signed the repeal into law. The repeal took effect immediately, making Michigan the ... 5. Only 1 Out of 4 Companies Buying Cyberinsurance Apr 17, 2012 -- Nearly three in four corporate risk managers are not buying insurance policies to cover data breaches and damage to customers' privacy despite the rising threat of hacking, according to a survey released on Monday. Not ... 6. Penn. Mom, Daughter Go on Trial in $1M Insurance Fraud Case Apr 18, 2012 -- A mother and daughter from northeastern Pennsylvania are on trial for allegedly taking part in a decade-long $1 million insurance scam. Sixty-one-year-old Bianca Bucano and her 23-year-old daughter, Melissa, were ... 7. Wholesale Broker AmWINS Agrees to $1.3 Billion Recapitalization with New Mountain Apr 17, 2012 -- Wholesale insurance broker AmWINS Group Inc. announced today that its management and employee shareholders have agreed on a $1.3 billion recapitalization with private equity firm New Mountain Capital of New York. Other ... 8. Insurance Employment Report: Jobs Outlook Improving, Slowly Apr 16, 2012 -- Looking for work can be an exhausting, soul-draining endeavor during the best of economic times. It goes without saying that job searching is considerably more challenging these days, when the U.S. unemployment rate is ... 9. Illinois Man Sues Nestle, Wal-Mart Over Dog’s Death from ‘Wholesome’ Treat Apr 20, 2012 -- The death of a 9-year-old Pomeranian from eating a dog treat is hardly "what nature intended," according to a lawsuit filed this week. An Illinois man has sued Nestle Purina Petcare Co. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc., saying ... 10. Travelers Has $806M Q1 Income; Business Insurance Renewal Price Up 8% Apr 19, 2012 -- The Travelers Companies Inc. reported $806 million in net profit for the 2012 first quarter. The first-quarter profit was down 4 percent when compared to one year ago, but the result during the year-ago period was ... Popular Videos Financial Institutions Underwriting: Is It Safe to Come Out Yet? Challenges in Assessing Private Company, Non-Profit Risks Subscriber Tools Send this to a friend Subscribe Unsubscribe Submit News Contact Us More Newsletters Choose Newsletters Daily Headlines Weekly Reader Picks Magazine Update Insurance Journal TV Classifieds Breaking News MyNewMarkets Daily Claims Daily Enter Your E-mail

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The importance of a healthy Agent-Adjuster relationship

New training from Insurance Journal's Academy of Insurance. Register today! Having trouble reading this email? View it as a webpage. Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe instantly. The importance of a healthy Agent/Adjuster relationship Without the Insurance agent, there would be no business, no policies sold to customers and no need for an adjuster. Without the Insurance adjuster, the agent would not have the means and ability to handle the claims presented by his customers. Without Insurance customers, there would be no need for the agent or adjuster. Each roll in the insurance claims transaction is dependent on the other. A strong working relationship, beneficial to all parties, must be established. Understanding how the survival of the agent and the adjuster rolls is reflected in the success of the insurance industry will enable you to begin an agent and adjuster advocacy program that can be measured in productivity, customer satisfaction and growth. Click Here to Register What you will learn in this webinar: The importance of a healthy Agent/Adjuster relationship Productivity and Customer Satisfaction Measurement tools How to start an Adjuster Advocacy Program When you register, you get: Access to the live webinar Video and audio recordings, so you can watch or listen again Question & Answer session with the instructor Audio download of the webcast Presentation slides download Join us this Wednesday, April 25th for this one-hour training webinar. (PLUS, all registrants will receive video and audio recordings of the webinar, so you can listen/watch again at your convenience.) Space is limited! Click Here to Reserve Your Spot! Regularly priced at $129.00, just $89 when you register today! (special pricing expires April 24th) Have questions or need help? Send an email to webcasts@insurancejournal.com or call Barbara at 800-897-9965 x166. Date: Wednesday, April 25th Time: 1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT Duration: 1 Hour Price: Save $40 until April 24th! Register today for just $89! Click Here to Register Instructor: Mary Anne Medina Instructor & Course Developer for Vale Training Solutions More Great Training: MAY 2: Succession Training- The Performance Mgmt Process: Linking Performance to Results - Do you have an effective Performance Management Process in place? MAY 3: Insuring Condominium Association D&O Exposures - Whether you sell or service Homeowners Associations or just serve on your condominiums board you will find this webinar informative. MAY 9: Secrets of Insuring Restaurants (3-part series) - Restaurants are very tricky businesses to insure. Join Trent and Amy as they help ensure that your restaurant clients are being properly insured. MAY 9: Secrets of Insuring Restaurants- Intro to Restaurants - There's a lot to know when insuring restaurants. Join us as we discuss the foundation of insuring these "risky" businesses. MAY 10: Business Income: It's Easier Than You Think (3-Part Series) - Business income is the MOST important property coverage any insured can buy. Discover how simple the coverage really is during this 3-part web series. Send to a Friend | Contact Us | Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy Insurance Journal 3570 Camino del Rio North, Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92108 (800) 897-9965 Copyright © 2012 by Wells Publishing, Inc.

If You're Not Scared by Construction Bonds - You Should Be!

New training from Insurance Journal's Academy of Insurance. Register today! Having trouble reading this email? View it as a webpage. Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe instantly. Move from being Reactive to Proactive in recognizing signs of contractor distress Bid bonds, performance bonds, payment bonds... those are a whole lotta bonds. This two-part seminar presents a wide-ranging examination of bond-related issues connected to the construction industry including how bonds work, how they differ from liability insurance, and the basic terminology of bonding. As a prelude to the topic of bid bonds, the public works bidding process is covered. Join us these next 2 Thursdays as Rick Pitts, Vice-President & General Counsel to Arlington Roe & Co., discusses major clauses within each of these bond forms using the American Institute of Architects forms as a guide. The distinctions between first and second tier claimants in performance bonds are covered along with an examination of the notice and claim content provisions of each bond. Don't miss out on this very informative and helpful webinar series on Contractor Bonds! Click Here to Register What you will learn in this webinar: Understand the competitive bidding process and be able to identify some of the risks inherent in it Develop the vocabulary for construction bonds and the parties to the agreements involved Increase their knowledge of the terms and conditions of major, industry standard bond forms; and Advance in the skills necessary to counsel insureds about how bonds work on a practical basis. When you register, you get: Access to the live webinar Video and audio recordings, so you can watch or listen again Question & Answer session with the instructor Audio download of the webcast Presentation slides download Join us this Thursday, April 19th and Thursday, April 26th for this two-part training webinar. (PLUS, all registrants will receive video and audio recordings of the webinar, so you can listen/watch again at your convenience.) Space is limited! Click Here to Reserve Your Spot! Regularly priced at $197.00, just $147 when you register today! (special pricing expires April 18th) Have questions or need help? Send an email to webcasts@insurancejournal.com or call Barbara at 800-897-9965 x166. Part One: Thursday, Apr 19 Part Two: Thursday, Apr 26 Time: 1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT Duration: 1 Hour Each Week Price: Save $40 until April 18th! Register today for just $147! Click Here to Register Instructor: Rick Pitts Vice-President & General Counsel to Arlington/Roe & Co., Inc. More Great Training: APR 18: Succession Training- Building Your Team: Hiring, Training and Retaining the Best People - Once you have the right person for the job, how do you ensure that they'll want to stay? APR 25: Is a Strong Agent/Adjuster Relationship Vital? - The relationship between an Agent and Adjuster is much more important than we seem to think it is. Join us as we learn ways to have a successful, positive relationship between Agent and Adjuster. MAY 2: Succession Training- The Performance Mgmt Process: Linking Performance to Results - Do you have an effective Performance Management Process in place? MAY 3: Insuring Condominium Association D&O Exposures - Whether you sell or service Homeowners Associations or just serve on your condominiums board you will find this webinar informative. MAY 9: Secrets of Insuring Restaurants (3-part series) - Restaurants are very tricky businesses to insure. Join Trent and Amy as they help ensure that your restaurant clients are being properly insured. MAY 9: Secrets of Insuring Restaurants- Intro to Restaurants - There's a lot to know when insuring restaurants. Join us as we discuss the foundation of insuring these "risky" businesses. Send to a Friend | Contact Us | Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy Insurance Journal 3570 Camino del Rio North, Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92108 (800) 897-9965 Copyright © 2012 by Wells Publishing, Inc.

Weekly Reader Picks: Monday, April 16, 2012

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April 16, 2012 Top 10 for the Past Week 1. Survey: Why Agents and Customers Choose Higher-Priced Insurers Apr 12, 2012 -- Insurance customers are price-sensitive shoppers, and they have become more so given the financial pressures of the struggling economy. Many observers fear that standard coverage is becoming commoditized to the point ... 2. Severe Weather Has Home Insurers Rethinking Coverages Apr 10, 2012 -- As weather disasters strike with more frequency, U.S. homeowners first get hit with the destruction or total loss of property. Many are then hit with the unexpected loss of homeowners insurance policies as insurance ... 3. Top Reasons Happy Couples File Wedding Insurance Claims Apr 2, 2012 -- Vendor and venue problems are the most frequent causes of wedding day mishaps that result in insurance claims. Wedding insurance experts at Travelers Insurance recently analyzed the company's wedding insurance claims ... 4. Florida Homeowners Association Could Be Sued in Martin Shooting Case Apr 10, 2012 -- If Trayvon Martin's family sues over his death, they might not target George Zimmerman but instead the homeowners association of the neighborhood where the shooting happened and Zimmerman lived. That's because if ... 5. 160-Year Old Hanover Retaking Its Place as P/C Industry Leader Apr 3, 2012 -- Eight out of 160 years of history may not seem like a big deal but for Hanover Insurance Group, founded in 1852, the last eight years have seen a series of big deals. Eight years ago in 2004, the $2.4 billion heavily ... 6. Property Insurance Rates Continue to Firm: Marsh Apr 10, 2012 -- Global property insurance rates continued to firm in the first quarter of 2012 and there are forces at play that will likely continue the trend, according to a report from insurance broker Marsh. Despite the absence of ... 7. Mont. Woman Awarded $34M in Insurance Lawsuit Apr 11, 2012 -- A 90-year-old woman residing in an assisted-living facility in Billings has won a $34.2 million judgment against her Omaha, Neb.-based insurance company for suspending payments for her dementia care. Arlene Hull and her ... 8. Actuary Analyzes Insurance Twitter Messages, Wins Prize Apr 11, 2012 -- Usually actuaries focus on insurance rates and loss reserves, not advertisements. But according to one actuary: Jake, the State Farm agent whom a jealous housewife was convinced was up to no good with her husband – ... 9. Obesity Now Accounts for 21% of Healthcare Costs: Study Apr 10, 2012 -- Obesity now accounts for almost 21 percent of U.S. healthcare costs — more than twice some previous estimates, reports a new Cornell University study. An obese person incurs medical costs that are $2,741 higher (in ... 10. California Workers' Comp Reform Taking Shape – Again Apr 10, 2012 -- At a recent joint hearing in Sacramento on workers' compensation in California with the Assembly and Senate, statistic after statistic flew out of the mouths of speaker after speaker during the nearly four-hour ... Popular Videos Financial Institutions Underwriting: Is It Safe to Come Out Yet? Annual Live Training Burn Educates Adjusters Proliferation of M&A Litigation Lining Lawyers' Pockets Subscriber Tools Send this to a friend Subscribe Unsubscribe Submit News Contact Us More Newsletters Choose Newsletters Daily Headlines Weekly Reader Picks Magazine Update Insurance Journal TV Classifieds Breaking News MyNewMarkets Daily Claims Daily Enter Your E-mail

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Who's WOO'ing your employees?

New training from Insurance Journal's Academy of Insurance. Register today! Having trouble reading this email? View it as a webpage. Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe instantly. Hire, train and retain talented people who support your mission and strive to achieve amazing results Finding the best employees in today's competitive market is challenging. Picking people who are the "right" fit for your dream team is even more challenging. Once you know the skills, talents and traits the "right" person must have, you must learn how to retain that "right" person. Adding talented people who support your mission and strive to achieve outstanding results is essential to the success of your business. This Wednesday, Kathy Ryan reveals the success inherent in conducting behavioral-based interviews and creating individualized training plans. Click Here to Register What you will learn in this webinar: A Method to Analyze Staffing Needs What Behavioral-Based Interviews are and How to Conduct Them How to Create Individual Training Plans Tips for Retaining Key Employees When you register, you get: Access to the live webinar Video and audio recordings, so you can watch or listen again Question & Answer session with the instructor Audio download of the webcast Presentation slides download Join us this Wednesday, April 18th for this one-hour training webinar. (PLUS, all registrants will receive video and audio recordings of the webinar, so you can listen/watch again at your convenience.) Space is limited! Click Here to Reserve Your Spot! Regularly priced at $129.00, just $89 when you register today! (special pricing expires April 17th) Have questions or need help? Send an email to webcasts@insurancejournal.com or call Barbara at 800-897-9965 x166. Date: Wednesday, April 18th Time: 1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT Duration: 1 Hour Price: Save $40 until April 17th! Register today for just $89! Click Here to Register Instructor: Kathy Ryan President of Pinnacle Coaching Group and expert in effective communication. More Great Training: APR 19: Contractor Bonds (2-part series) - This two-part seminar presents a wide-ranging examination of bond-related issues connected to the construction industry. APR 25: Is a Strong Agent/Adjuster Relationship Vital? - The relationship between an Agent and Adjuster is much more important than we seem to think it is. Join us as we learn ways to have a successful, positive relationship between Agent and Adjuster. MAY 2: Succession Training- The Performance Mgmt Process: Linking Performance to Results - Do you have an effective Performance Management Process in place? MAY 3: Insuring Condominium Association D&O Exposures - Whether you sell or service Homeowners Associations or just serve on your condominiums board you will find this webinar informative. MAY 9: Secrets of Insuring Restaurants (3-part series) - Restaurants are very tricky businesses to insure. Join Trent and Amy as they help ensure that your restaurant clients are being properly insured. Send to a Friend | Contact Us | Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy Insurance Journal 3570 Camino del Rio North, Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92108 (800) 897-9965 Copyright © 2012 by Wells Publishing, Inc.