Two for Tuesday Header
 


 
In This Issue:
Chubb Helps Protect What Matters Most
InsurBanc's Chief Lending Officer on the Three Top Questions Independent Agents Ask Bankers
Special Feature: Home Business Exposure Gap
 
Additional Items:
Webinars
Parting Shot
Last Week's Most Clicked
Sale of the Week
 

 
Chubb Helps Protect What Matters Most
By: Meghan Gentry, Senior Marketing Specialist - Chubb Personal Insurance

On January 14, 2016, ACE Limited acquired The Chubb Corporation, creating a global insurance leader operating under the renowned Chubb name. The new Chubb has officially been named the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurer, but these changes haven't stopped the company from delivering exceptional property and casualty insurance products and services to businesses and individuals around the world. We at Chubb pride ourselves on protecting the emotional attachment that clients have to their assets. We understand that these assets have a value beyond dollars and cents and that in the event of a loss, you'll want more than just a check from your insurer. The new Chubb still guarantees that we'll do our best to make the damage go away, but in the event we can't, we'll rebuild or repair without hassles, headaches, or delays.

The new Chubb will continue to offer the Masterpiece contract for all new clients - a contract which has long been considered the gold standard for the affluent insured1. Offering coverage for homeowners, valuable articles, auto, liability and yacht, the new Chubb is committed to providing continuous product updates and new offerings that best meet the needs of high net worth consumers.

One such product update is 'Family Protection 8.0.' Part of the 8th major multi-line revision to Masterpiece, 'Family Protection 8.0' will be released in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana & Wisconsin effective 3/7/16 for new business issued & effective that date.2 These changes will be rolled out to additional U.S. states where Family Protection is available in the near future. 3

What is Family Protection? It's a product developed to help cover certain costs if an insured or an insured's loved one is the victim of a home invasion or air/road rage, child abduction, carjacking or a stalking threat crime almost anywhere in the world. Coverage for this product starts at $70 per year, but prices vary by state.

With the 8.0 revision, Family Protection is now including a new Cyber Bullying Coverage in which customers can be reimbursed up to $60,000 in the recovery of a cyber-bullying occurrence. The coverage pays for psychiatric services, rest and recuperation expenses, a PR professional to help repair reputational damage and a cyber-security professional to help build a strong legal case if the matter is brought to court. It will also pay for lost income or tuition fees if the customer has to miss work or transfer schools. Additionally, it will cover temporary relocation cost if the customer has to leave their home to avoid harassment.

As the leading insurer of fine homes and possessions, we not only want to help protect the thing you treasure most; we also want to cover the people who are most precious to you.
  1. New clients to Chubb will be written on Masterpiece paper while and any legacy-Chubb policyholders will continue to renew on Masterpiece paper as well. Conversely, any legacy-ACE policyholders will continue to renew as expiring on their Platinum Portfolio contracts despite being under the umbrella of the new Chubb Corporation.
  2. Please remember that per the U.S. Business Placement Plan for Personal Lines, Family Protection can only be sold to customers with a Masterpiece or Texas Platinum dwelling policy. Legacy-ACE policyholders must utilize the Family Security Coverage option available via endorsement for $100 annually.
  3. Family Protection is NOT currently available in AK, HI, IA, ND, SD, VA or WY.
 
 
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Special Feature:
Home Business Exposure Gap
By Elif Wisecup, Director of Marketing of Big I Advantage®

Most new U.S. businesses start at home, so you likely have clients with a home business exposure you don't know about. And thanks to a new online submission process and online direct bill payments, submitting business with the Big "I" RLI Home Business Program is now easier than ever.

Isn't my customer's homeowners policy enough?

No! A typical HO policy doesn't provide adequate coverage for a home business. For example, coverage is usually excluded in these situations:
  • Business equipment is stolen from their vehicle
  • Groceries spill onto inventory in the trunk of their car
  • A power surge damages their computer and scanner
  • Someone steals their cash box
RLI's Home Business policy can provide coverage for all of these situations, for over 130 classes of business. Some coverage features include:
  • Liability limits up to $1 million
  • Satisfies most event or tradeshow liability requirements
  • Business property protection up to $100,000
  • Additional insureds can be added
Visit www.iiaba.net/homebusiness to learn more about this product, and to contact your state administrator for a login or submission instructions.  
 
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InsurBanc's Chief Lending Officer on the Three Top Questions Independent Agents Ask Bankers
In Property Casualty 360's recent article, InsurBanc's Chief Lending Officer, Robert Pettinicchi gives insight into three questions bank lending officers often receive. In this article, Robert provides his observations on the interest rate environment and agency valuations.

With the Federal Reserve Board's recent decision to raise low interest rates, how will this affect rates paid by borrowers? Robert discusses how agency borrowers will be impacted and what he expects of interest rates throughout 2016.

If you're thinking about selling your agency, what price could you get if you sold? Learn what factors InsurBanc considers when evaluating and valuing an agency.

Are agency valuations at their peak? Read about values being paid for independent insurance agencies and how that may influence your decision to sell.

Click here to read the full article.  
 
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Webinars
Big "I" Virtual University Webinars

Don't miss the following education opportunities provided from the Big "I" Virtual University experts that focus on topics agents need to know to make a smart start in 2016. For more information, contact national staff.
  • March 23. "Horrible Commercial Lines Policy Forms and Endorsements to Avoid or Be Wary Of" This program examines dozens of commercial lines policy forms and endorsements that business entities should avoid in their insurance programs if at all possible. Discussion topics range from why be concerned to who's to blame, to Non-ISO and ISO Policy Forms and Endorsements and what to do, along with time for questions and answers. Click here to learn more and register.
  • April 20. "Pollution... You're Not Properly Insuring It! - Unbelievable Fun With Pollution Exclusions" This webinar identifies why "pollution" exposures go far beyond what you might think of in terms of hazardous materials, with the most common pollutants being fungus/mold/bacteria. An overview of standard CGL and commercial property exclusions is provided then explores an in-depth review of frequently overlooked F/M/B exposures and real-life case studies. Attend and learn the importance of recognizing the exposures and choosing the appropriate environmental insurance product. Click here to learn more and to register.
 
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DocuSign for Big I Members: Keeping Business Digital with eSignatures

Join us to learn more about DocuSign for your agency. We'll show you how you can use DocuSign for everything from new policy applications to coverage election forms. We'll cover the basics, including how to take advantage of your exclusive Big "I" member price discount, and leave plenty of time for you to ask us questions:
  • Legality and security: We'll show you how DocuSign is a best practice in keeping you and your clients safe
  • Ease and convenience: See what your clients will see when you send documents through DocuSign, and learn just how easy it is to sign
  • Sending, templates and account management: We'll get you up to speed on setting up your account, short cuts with document templates, and account management 101
We'll see you there!


Click the date to learn more and to register:  
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Remember that you can view the following webinars 24/7 by checking out the BIM Webinar Library. To do that log onto Big "I" Markets and click on "Publications".
  • Personal Liability Trends - Fireman's Fund
  • TravPay
  • Commercial Lessor's Risk
  • Affluent Homeowners
  • Travelers Select Products (series)
  • Travel Insurance
  • Community Banks
  • XS Flood
  • Real Estate E&O
  • RLI Personal Umbrella
  • Affluent Homeowner
  • "Oh, by the way...Flood Sale"
  • Habitational
  • Non-standard Homeowner
  • Student Housing
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BIM WEBSITE TRAINING WEBINAR
For all you folks who recently registered for Big "I" Markets, remember you can participate in a webinar from the comfort of your office to help you learn how to navigate around the system. Every Thursday at 2:00 p.m. EDT we'll show you how to navigate the Big "I" Markets platform, including how to submit a quote! A recording of this webinar can be found under "Publications" after logging into Big "I" Markets.
 
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Student of the Industry Parting Shot
Why Has Industry Use of Reinsurance Increased?
By Paul Buse, President of Big I Advantage®

This week we turn to a question I've never received a definitive answer to and that is, "Why does it appear that over the past 20 years or so the average percentage of reinsurance has increased?"

Below in green is Gross (before reinsurance) and Net (after reinsurance share). The red line is the percentage of reinsurance and, visually, it is the gap between the solid and dotted green lines. I've never heard a definitive answer on why reinsurance use has doubled in 20 years from 5% to over 10%. Look at the big jump in reinsurance utilization before the 2000-2002 hard insurance market. I can look at the same graph by Line Of Business (LOB). What's your theory? Email me at paul.buse@iiaba.net.
 
Click for larger version

Source: A.M. Best Aggregates and Averages  
 
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Last Week's Most Clicked Links
Here are the top three items that got BIM agents clicking from our last edition... see what you missed!
  1. Bizarre Christmas Claims
  2. Travelers Select Recent New Business List
  3. Wasteful Real Estate Lawsuit
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Big "I" Markets Sale of the Week
Congratulations to our agent in Michigan on a performance bond sale of $11,423 in premium!  
 
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Tuesday, March 8, 2016

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TFT is authored by Michael Welch
Big "I" Markets Marketing Assistant