​Agency Management Basics
How Much Does an Employee Cost you?
When you think about adding a new employee to your payroll, determine what the actual financial cost of doing so means to your business. This includes the dollars and cents over and above the basic wage or salary you agree to pay. There’s a rule of thumb that the cost is typically 1.25 to 1.4 times the salary, depending on certain variables.
Independent insurance agents have an edge in the digital market

10 sales behaviors that prospects hate
Here's a list of things you might be doing that are repelling prospects.…Read more

The Funniest Excuses People Used to Get Out of Work
These are almost too ridiculous to be real—but they are. Find out more »

6 ways to improve producer recruitment success rates
A new Reagan study shows that only 56% of producer hires are successful. Here are six tips to beat the odds....Read more
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Study Shows that Independent Agencies are Thriving

Insurance Agency Valuations on the Rise
Modern technology provides a variety of tools that make contact with clients easier than ever before. Are you making the most of them?
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Why Independent Agencies Won't Lose Significant Market Share to Non-Agency Corporations 
Personal Auto Insurance Basics
What is auto insurance?

11 Factors That Affect Car Insurance Rates – How to Lower Your Costs​

​Rental Car Insurance: Tips on What You Need to Know at the Counter Video
Homeowner's / Renter's Insurance Basics
My homeowners' policy covers that?
From falling objects to stolen credit cards, homeowners' insurance covers some uncommon issues. …Read more

What is homeowners insurance?

Filing a Homeowners Insurance Claim: Six Steps Video

6 homeowners’ policy endorsements agents and brokers need to know
It's the insurance agent or broker's job to explain a policy to the buyer, including the available endorsements, and they need to know which endorsement best fits the client’s situation. …Read more

Tornado and severe weather insurance checklist
Unpredictable spring storms mean homeowners, renters, and business and vehicle owners must carefully review their coverage. Read More


Miscellaneous Personal Lines 
Grilling Safely Article

Severe Cold Weather Survival Checklist Article

Small Business Insurance Basics
​Finding Coverage that Matches Your Business Size

Home-Based Businesses

Errors & Omissions Prevention
E&O Tip on "Is there an E&O impact when the rating of one of your carriers changes?"
http://agentsofamerica.org/page.php?id=1516

E&O Tip on "The Consent to Settle clause is it really a bad provision?" (352 words)
http://agentsofamerica.org/page.php?id=1536

Insurance Fraud Prevention
Lawless Lamborghini ride means turnpike to prison
http://www.insurancefraud.org/article.htm?RecID=3310
Zalma's Insurance Fraud Letter - 02/01/16
Ethics in the Insurance Industry
Failure seems to be nature’s plan for preparing us for great responsibilities.
If everything we attempted in life were achieved with a minimum of effort and came out exactly as planned, how little we would learn — and how boring life would be! And how arrogant we would become if we succeeded at everything we attempted. Failure allows us to develop the essential quality of humility. It is not easy — when you are the person experiencing failure — to accept it philosophically, serene in the knowledge that this is one of life’s great learning experiences. But it is. Nature’s ways are not always easily understood, but they are repetitive and therefore predictable. You can be absolutely certain that when you feel you are being most unfairly tested, you are being prepared for great achievement.
Smile A While
"Do you know the present value of your husband's policy?" the life insurance agent asked his client.
"What do you mean?" countered the woman.
"If you should lose your husband, what would you get?" asked the agent.
The woman thought for a minute, then brightened up and said, "Probably a poodle."

Insurance Coverage en Español
http://www.iii.org/es/insurance-topics/all-coverage-en-espanol

#1 - Risk Overview

#2 - General Information

#3 - Building, Business Personal Property & Business Income

#4 - Inland Marine
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#5 - Employee Dishonesty, Money & Securities and Extortion

#6 - General Liability​

​Examining A Risk In More Detail
Another important reason is to gain enough knowledge to decide where the broader risk is still acceptable. Asking the right questions of a prospect or current client is a critical way to be aware of the total exposure presented by its operations. Ignorance of what risks are created by a client’s work is not a shield against legal responsibility for injury or damage caused to others. So, ask plenty of questions.
Click here to see how a questionnaire permits exploration for information that helps identify contractual risks that may need to be addressed. It’s from the Risk Survey – Commercial.

#7 - Employee Benefits & Commercial Umbrella

#8 - Business Automobile

#9 - Workers Compensation

Click Here to continue to Lesson #3