Is Your Agency Story Different than the Next One?

Having trouble reading this email? View it as a webpage. Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe instantly. Is Your Agency Story Different than the Next One? You run a top notch agency; going the extra mile for customers. But are you able to communicate your quality to the outside world? You may ask, "What's the best way for me to communicate my value? How can I differentiate my agency from the competition? What's the most effective way to position my agency?" If you are asking these questions, this two-part class is for you. Click Here to Register What you will learn: Immediately position your agency as a trusted advisor and valuable risk manager Create a Client Attraction Conversation that is easy to deliver Use these two powerful tools to create Authentic Enthusiasm Transition from selling to helping, the most powerful position in sales Part One: Wednesday, Jan. 11 Part Two: Wednesday, Jan. 25 Time: 1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT Duration: 1 Hour 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 January 10th) In this course, Bill Whitley, a communications expert, will teach you how to craft a marketing message that will quickly position your agency as the trusted advisor that customers will naturally gravitate to. Best of all, Whitley teaches you and your team how to effortlessly deliver this messaging to prospects. When you register, you get: Access to both live webinars 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, January 11th and Wednesday, January 25th 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 January 10th) Have questions or need help? Send an email to webcasts@insurancejournal.com or call Barbara at 800-897-9965 x166. Part One: Wednesday, January 11 Part Two: Wednesday, January 25 Time: 1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT Duration: 1 Hour Each Price: Save $50 until Jan. 10th! Register today for just $147! Click Here to Register Instructor: Bill Whitley Founder of three successful start-up companies, and author of "Art of the Rainmaker." More Great Training: JAN 12: Understanding the Basics of Contractual Risk Transfer - Learn the duties of each of the three parties involved in contractual risk transfer and how contractual risk transfer is defined. JAN 19: The Real Effects of Granting Additional Insured Status - Learn if naming an additional insured will reduce the limits of coverage available or in any other way negatively affect the named insured's protection. Jan 25-27, 2012 Tempe, AZ Get Your Property Risk Insurance Specialist (PRIS) Designation - Save $997.50 until midnight January 10! Join us in Tempe, AZ for this three-day in-person program. The PRIS program was developed to allow agents, brokers, underwriters, risk managers and insurance buyers to gain specialized knowledge in managing and insuring property risks. The designation is designed to increase the expertise and competence of individuals who sell, underwrite or purchase property insurance. JAN 26: The Proper Care and Feeding of Certificates of Insurance - This course reviews the legal and regulatory issues as well as the do's and don'ts for handling Certificates of Insurance. 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, January 9, 2012

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January 9, 2012 Top 10 for the Past Week 1. Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake Strikes off Japan Coast Jan 3, 2012 -- A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 struck under the sea several hundred miles (kilometers) south of Japan on Sunday, shaking buildings in the capital, but officials said there was no danger of a tsunami. The quake struck near ... 2. Report: Liberty Mutual Failed in Bid to Buy Harleysville Jan 6, 2012 -- It turns out there was another player in last year's merger deal between Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. and Harleysville Mutual Insurance Co. According to a news report, Liberty Mutual also made an offer last September to buy Harleysville but was ... 3. Drunk Driver Test? There’s an App for That Jan 4, 2012 -- A drunken driving test may not seem the likeliest place to come up with a mobile phone app, but that's when inspiration struck Nashville, Tennessee resident Clay Bradley. Bradley said he was following a policeman's pen with his eyes when it dawned ... 4. Football Players Sue Chicago Law Firm Jan 4, 2012 -- Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Kyle Orton and some 20 other NFL players are suing a Chicago law firm for more than $10 million, claiming they received bad financial advice on investing in energy concerns. The 14-page lawsuit filed in Cook County ... 5. Allstate Offers Claim Satisfaction Guarantee Jan 3, 2012 -- Allstate has decided to expand a claims guarantee to their auto insurance customers that will provide a credit to their auto policies if they are not satisfied with their auto claims service. The claim satisfaction guarantee was tested last year ... 6. Insurer Sues Google in Alabama Over Unflattering Search Results Jan 5, 2012 -- An insurer is hoping to use an Alabama state law governing deceptive trade practices to stop Google from prominently displaying negative websites about the company. American Income Life Insurance Co. has filed suit in the Jefferson County Alabama ... 7. Hiring Executives: How to Move Beyond First Impressions Jan 3, 2012 -- What are they really like? Little things can be revealing in an interview and a skilled interviewer can look beneath the surface to discover the real candidate. Selecting the right people to lead and build effective executive teams is critical to ... 8. Fatal Connecticut Fire Reminds Homeowners of Ash Dangers Jan 3, 2012 -- Fire safety officials are warning homeowners about the dangers of fireplace ashes after a Christmas morning blaze that killed five people in Connecticut. Authorities say the fire in Stamford was caused by a bag of fireplace ashes left near the back ... 9. Ground Shifting for Medical Liability Insurers: Moody’s Jan 3, 2012 -- Although it comprises just over two percent of annual direct premiums for the U.S. property and casualty insurance industry, the medical professional liability (MPL) insurance business is integral to the U.S. healthcare system, which today accounts ... 10. Insurance Veterans’ Forecasts for 2012 Jan 5, 2012 -- Now that the year 2011 is behind us, let's take a look at what might be ahead. Insurance Journal spoke with leading industry professionals and asked them what they are expecting this year. If their forecasts are any guide, 2012 is going to be ... Popular Videos How Insurance Distribution Is Changing Industry's First Virtual Insurance Tradeshow Live Again In February 2012 As the Market Turns, What Is Broker's Role? 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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Gain a Competitive Advantage in 3 Days

Join us Jan 25 and earn your Property Risk Insurance Specialist (PRIS) designation in 3 Days! Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Property Insurance In three short days you could learn more about property insurance than most insurance people pick up over their entire career. Imagine the competitive advantage you will have in this changing insurance market. The Property Risk Insurance Specialist (PRIS) designation is an intensive three-day program covering all areas of commercial property insurance. Completion of this program positions you to be the property insurance expert for your clients. PLUS, the PRIS also indicates a commitment to excellence lacking in your competition. Unlike other Academy of Insurance courses, this is a live class. Tempe, Arizona is the site for this live training. The class begins on January 25, 2012 and runs through January 28, 2012. The class is not being recorded, so don't miss the opportunity to gain some amazing insight and knowledge. The usual investment for this course is $1,995, but for the next four days this PRIS class is being offered at a very special price - $997.50. This is a 50% savings for those who register before midnight on January 10, 2012. You do not want to miss this opportunity to reserve your spot in this class at such an incredible discount. Go here to get full course information and reserve your spot. We look forward to seeing you in Tempe! If you have any questions, send me an email at webcasts@insurancejournal.com. Thank you, Barbara Dooley Online Training Coordinator Academy of Insurance www.ijacademy.com  Follow on Twitter | Friend on Facebook | Connect on LinkedIn | Forward to a friend  Copyright © 2012 Wells Publishing, Inc., All rights reserved. Insurance Journal / Academy of Insurance 3570 Camino del Rio N Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92108 Toll Free: (800) 897-9965 Webinar Schedule On-Demand Training Contact Us  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

Construction Contracts Ultimately Cause Certificate Problems

Contracts and Insurance Live Training Pack: Get access to three live training courses plus download the recordings to watch whenever. Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Construction Contracts Ultimately Cause Certificate Problems Agents and insurers who work with a large number of construction clients know that contracts, additional insured requests and Certificates of Insurance are all part of daily life. But often overlooked are the problems created for agents who are requested to use certificates of insurance to meet contractual and additional insured requirements. Interpreting contractual risk transfer provision, establishing additional insured status by endorsement and issuing Certificates of Insurance each create separate dangers for the agent and the underwriter. Examples of these problems created by these distinct actions include: Contractual Risk Transfer Interpreting contractual risk transfer provisions in any construction contract requires you to understand: 1) the basics of contractual risk transfer, including the parties involved in the transfer; 2) the responsibilities of each of these parties; and 3) the agent's limited role - letting the insured know whether or not the insurance policy complies with the contract (and how to fix areas where it doesn't, if a fix is available). Additional Insured Status Contracts often require the lower tier contractor to name the upper tier contractor as an "Additional Insured" on the lower tier contractor's insurance policy. You have to know how this affects the lower tier's insurance coverage, or if it affects it at all. Beyond knowing how giving additional insured status to another party affects coverage, you also must understand how much coverage is actually extended by the policy language (it may not be as broad as what the contract requires). Certificates of Insurance This is the final pit in this line of traps. Agents are requested to issue Certificates of Insurance on a daily basis. Agents are often asked to prove that a lower tier contractor's insurance policies comply with contractual risk transfer and additional insured status required of them in these Certificates. While some provisions can be attested to in a Certificate, some cannot. And using a Certificate for any purpose other than that intended can lead to a major errors and omissions problem for the agent. Academy of Insurance offers you three classes covering these subjects (and problems) in detail. You can take any or all of the courses. Register to take all three and you qualify for an incredible savings. If you registered for each of these classes individually, you could pay $387. But register for all three and you save $180. Course #1: January 12 : Contractual Risk Transfer Regular price: $129 Course #2: January 19 : Additional Insured Status Regular price: $129 Course #3: January 26 : Certificates of Insurance Regular price: $129 Don't miss out! Register before the end of this week and get all three classes for only $207. Order today to get access these three courses and recordings. Order today and get access to these three live trainings. PLUS you'll get convenient anytime-access to the video / audio recordings. Academy of Insurance Zero-Risk Guarantee We know you're going to appreciate the value of the training you receive. It's simple. If you're not completely satisfied with the training, just contact us and we'll promptly issue you a full refund. If you have any questions, send me an email at webcasts@insurancejournal.com. Thank you, Barbara Dooley Online Training Coordinator Academy of Insurance www.ijacademy.com  Follow on Twitter | Friend on Facebook | Connect on LinkedIn | Forward to a friend  Copyright © 2012 Wells Publishing, Inc., All rights reserved. Insurance Journal / Academy of Insurance 3570 Camino del Rio N Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92108 Toll Free: (800) 897-9965 Webinar Schedule On-Demand Training Contact Us  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

Sun Tzu, "The Art of War" & Insurance Training

Having trouble reading this email? View it as a webpage. Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe instantly. It All Started Because I Needed a Job Look, I don't know why you got into insurance; I doubt many are in this industry because it was your dream. I fell into insurance because I needed a JOB. But the funny thing is, once I got into this profession (and it is a profession), I discovered that insurance is actually quite fascinating and complex. And now I love to teach and train new (or newer) insurance professionals about the unique concepts and facets within insurance. Sun Tzu, "The Art of War" & Insurance Training Insurance Journal's Academy of Insurance created its nine-part series, "Beyond Basic Training" to educate anyone relatively new to the industry about the dangers associated with risk. Don't misunderstand, it's not necessarily the presence of "risk" that is dangerous or the enemy; it is ignorance of and apathy towards risk that is the real danger and the real enemy. As Sun Tzu stated in "The Art of War," "If you know your enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of 100 battles." When you understand and know risk, risk management and insurance, you need not fear the presence of "risk." That's what this 9-part series allows you to do - know the enemy and know yourself and win the battle against "risk." You Skip Three Years of "Accidental" Learning I promise this series will not to bore you with facts. It will, however, thrill you with theories and concepts important to you as an insurance professional. You will magically skip over three years of "accidental" learning and advance more quickly in your career. You Can Listen Anytime Because this 9-part series has already been recorded, you can watch and listen anytime that is convenient for you. Also, each session is only one hour long, so you can get back to work quickly; but with great new knowledge. Hurry and order this on-demand series; the special price of $249 (regularly $697) for all 9 parts ends December 31. We look forward to hosting you. Click Here to Get Access Click Here for the Full Overview of the 9-Part Series Sincerely, Chris Boggs, CPCU, ARM, ALCM, LPCS, AAI, APA, CWCA, CRIS, AINS Director of Education Unsubscribe | Send to a Friend | Contact Us Insurance Journal 3570 Camino del Rio North, Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92108 (800) 897-9965 Copyright © 2011 by Wells Publishing, Inc.

Sun Tzu, "The Art of War" & Insurance Training

Having trouble reading this email? View it as a webpage. Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe instantly. It All Started Because I Needed a Job Look, I don't know why you got into insurance; I doubt many are in this industry because it was your dream. I fell into insurance because I needed a JOB. But the funny thing is, once I got into this profession (and it is a profession), I discovered that insurance is actually quite fascinating and complex. And now I love to teach and train new (or newer) insurance professionals about the unique concepts and facets within insurance. Sun Tzu, "The Art of War" & Insurance Training Insurance Journal's Academy of Insurance created its nine-part series, "Beyond Basic Training" to educate anyone relatively new to the industry about the dangers associated with risk. Don't misunderstand, it's not necessarily the presence of "risk" that is dangerous or the enemy; it is ignorance of and apathy towards risk that is the real danger and the real enemy. As Sun Tzu stated in "The Art of War," "If you know your enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of 100 battles." When you understand and know risk, risk management and insurance, you need not fear the presence of "risk." That's what this 9-part series allows you to do - know the enemy and know yourself and win the battle against "risk." You Skip Three Years of "Accidental" Learning I promise this series will not to bore you with facts. It will, however, thrill you with theories and concepts important to you as an insurance professional. You will magically skip over three years of "accidental" learning and advance more quickly in your career. You Can Listen Anytime Because this 9-part series has already been recorded, you can watch and listen anytime that is convenient for you. Also, each session is only one hour long, so you can get back to work quickly; but with great new knowledge. Hurry and order this on-demand series; the special price of $249 (regularly $697) for all 9 parts ends December 31. We look forward to hosting you. Click Here to Get Access Click Here for the Full Overview of the 9-Part Series Sincerely, Chris Boggs, CPCU, ARM, ALCM, LPCS, AAI, APA, CWCA, CRIS, AINS Director of Education Unsubscribe | Send to a Friend | Contact Us Insurance Journal 3570 Camino del Rio North, Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92108 (800) 897-9965 Copyright © 2011 by Wells Publishing, Inc.

Weekly Reader Picks: Monday, December 19, 2011

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December 19, 2011 Top 10 for the Past Week 1. The Next Big Thing in Insurance Coverage Is Here Dec 13, 2011 -- Some in the insurance industry are staking their futures on the reputations of others. That is, they are looking to insure reputational risk. With the boom in social media, interest in reputational risk has itself boomed. The term refers to a ... 2. Want to Reduce Cyber Risk? Avoid These 25 Worst Passwords of 2011 Dec 7, 2011 -- One way to help lower personal and business cyber risk is to avoid using easy-to-crack passwords. SplashData, a password management application maker, recently compiled a list of the 25 worst passwords for the year 2011. The research results were ... 3. S&P Puts Allianz, Aviva, AXA, Generali, Mapfre Units, 10 Other EU Insurers on CreditWatch/Negative Dec 12, 2011 -- Standard & Poor's Ratings announced that it has placed its ratings on the following insurers (and certain related operating subsidiaries and certain holding companies) on CreditWatch with negative implications: • Allianz Group (including the ... 4. Best Practices to Prevent Employee Fraud in a Recession Dec 14, 2011 -- Difficult economic times like these are always accompanied by an increase in employee fraud claims. While most employees are honest and trustworthy burdened by financial stress, otherwise honest employees may be tempted to steal from their employers ... 5. Progressive to Pay $125K Fine in Massachusetts‎ Dec 13, 2011 -- The Massachusetts Division of Insurance announced a $125,000 financial settlement with Progressive Direct Insurance Company. Regulators said Progressive erroneously informed some Massachusetts consumers that they had used credit information to ... 6. Online Portal Aims to Connect Independent Agents with Consumers Dec 11, 2011 -- Beginning early next year, independent insurance agents will be able to tap into an online resource designed to connect them with the more than 65 percent of market share in personal lines they are currently missing. The Consumer Agent Portal LLP ... 7. Report Says M&A Deal Flow Will Pick Up, Lists Potential Candidates Dec 13, 2011 -- The insurance industry is likely to see more robust mergers-and-acquisitions activities in 2012, according to a New York investment and research firm. In 2011, the M&A deal volume started off relatively slowly, followed by a notable pick up in the ... 8. Travelers Indemnity Seeks Claims Limit in Western Penn. Turnpike Mess Dec 14, 2011 -- An insurance company says its liability for a pre-Thanksgiving asphalt spill on the Pennsylvania Turnpike should be limited to $1 million. Hundreds of vehicles were reportedly damaged when a leaking valve on a tanker spread the gooey substance over ... 9. Distracted Driving Stems From More Than Cell Phone Use, Insurers Say Dec 16, 2011 -- Using a cell phone while driving is not the only distraction leading to automobile crashes today, says a group of insurance carriers. While the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) call for a national ban on cell phone use while ... 10. Arrowhead in San Diego to be Acquired by Brown & Brown Dec 16, 2011 -- The parent company of managing general agent San Diego, Calif.-based Arrowhead General Insurance Agency Inc. has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Brown & Brown Inc. (NYSE: BRO). The purchase price is $395 million, subject to ... Popular Videos Cyber Monday Raises Cyber Risk Brokers: Overcome Fear of Patent Insurance 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

Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Send to a Friend | Contact Us Insurance Journal 3570 Camino del Rio North, Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92108 (800) 897-9965 Copyright © 2011 by Wells Publishing, Inc.