There are things every agent should understand about commercial property coverage. How well-versed are you on the finer points of this key coverage? Are you familiar with how the law affects the valuation of property? Or the effect that ordinances or laws can have on...
Words matter
Whether they are being spoken, written or posted online, the words we say have an impact on others—and on the ways others perceive the ones sharing those words. Personally and professionally, we have each felt the impact of what others have said about us, to us...
CPIA: Designated for success
When independent insurance agents earn specialized designations, they elevate their skills to expert status on the national level. There are plenty of designations that insurance agents can earn, and the Certified Professional Insurance Agent designation through the...
Updated: CE changes in New York; PIA requests deadline extension
Last October, the New York State Department of Financial Services announced that it changed the continuing-education requirements for insurance producers who do business in New York. The new requirements include additional education that insurance agents and brokers...
Contractual risk transfer, ethics, WC and captives—four arenas that should be familiar
In the commercial-lines insurance industry, insurance agents are responsible for staying abreast of their clients’ risks and exposures, on industry trends and on best practices for representing their agency, their carriers and their customers. Stay prepared When it...
What insurance agents need to know about CGL policies for contractors
Most insurance producers feel strongly about insuring contractors—it’s often a love to or hate to reaction. One of the things that makes insuring contractors so challenging is the myriad ways insurers modify the Commercial General Liability policy, often to restrict...
N.J.: DOBI proposes to amend CE regulations
The Department of Banking and Insurance began the process of amending to the state’s continuing-education regulations earlier this month. The DOBI sent an advance notice of rulemaking to PIANJ—as well as other stakeholders—outlining the amendments they are proposing....
Cyberthreats are some of the most significant exposures businesses face today
The more an insurance producer understands about cyber-related dangers that face clients, the better able that insurance producer is to help. From ransomware attacks, to breaches that trigger notification requirements under state security-breach laws, to...
N.Y.: Part III: How a bill moves through the New York state Legislature
Last week, we talked about how to gain support for a bill. This week, we will review the often-complicated process a bill must go through after it’s introduced in order to pass through both chambers of the state Legislature. While on the surface it seems easy enough,...
Back to the basics: What to know about commissions
Commissions seem basic: You sell an insurance policy to a client and you get a commission. However—as with all things insurance—it’s never quite that simple. There are laws and regulations regarding commissions, service fees, referral fees and rebating for insurance...