ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 22, 2010 — The Independent Agents & Brokers of America Big “I” Markets today announced a new insurance policy option with American Risk Management Resources Network, LLC (ARMR.NET) for above and below ground storage tank coverage. Members can now provide their clients with a new source of insurance for required AST and UST financial responsibility while at the same time providing coverage options for non-tank related premises and operations pollution liability insurance at an affordable price.
“We obtained for Big ‘I’ Markets nearly exclusive access to a storage tank policy that can provide environmental coverage for all of the operations at the insured site, creating a cost savings of up to 60% over conventional insurance designs,” says David Dybdahl, CPCU, ARMR.NET founder and president.
Dybdahl, who is also a well-known industry expert in environmental risks, notes that this new policy provides proof of financial responsibility and has coverage options to insure other pollution loss exposures tank owners often face. “Picture the fuel depot that has an accident on premises where oil reaches a nearby stream or ground water,” continues Dybdahl. “If it did not come from the tank, other tank policies won’t provide coverage.”
“Coverage is coming at an opportune time for member agencies,” says Paul Buse, Big “I” Advantage president. “Members have reported substantial price increases on underground storage tanks. This product is very competitive on standard UST exposures and adds surrounding premises and operations coverage.”
Buse says typical business insurance packages have what the industry calls an absolute pollution exclusion. “If your client has a UST policy to meet federal financial responsibility laws it’s not going to help if their parking lot or a contract site becomes polluted by accident,” continues Buse.
“Big ‘I’ members need to know about this product as the marketplace for USTs is changing,” says Jack Sherrill, senior partner of Sherrill & Co. in Savannah, Ga. and chairman of the Big “I” insurance licensed subsidiary that operates Big "I" Markets. “Established insurers are re-underwriting and non-renewing USTs over 25 years old. With ARMR.Net specialized resources, members can get trusted advice on coverage design, stable pricing and coverage beyond straight UST financial responsibility.”
American Risk Management Resources Network, LLC is a wholesale insurance brokerage firm specializing in environmental insurance placements and is licensed in all states. Their senior brokers all having at least 15 years of experience with environmental insurance.
Big “I” Markets provides free online access to specialty/niche coverages, program business and hard-to-find markets access exclusively for IIABA members. Using proprietary IIABA technology and IIABA’s nationally licensed, wholly owned agency—IIAA Agency Administrative Services—over 8,000 IIABA member agencies have access to available coverage, terms and conditions, applications, a quote request platform and policy forms and electronic brochures are efficiently conveyed to and from IIABA member agents and product providers.
Founded in 1896, the Big “I” is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance—property, casualty, life and health—as well as employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
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