Author: Mike Iverson, President, Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia

The Policy Matters! 

Each year, I have had the opportunity to be part of a group of agents and brokers who gather to reshape the industry. Agents and brokers from the most engaged states in the nation come together to share ideas and present suggestions to bring about positive change in the insurance industry. These agents of change call their group the Insurance Intelligence Committee and they gather at the Mid America Technical Conference.

Their goal is to drive positive changes for agents, consumers and insurance companies and they are highly effective at driving changes to coverage, rules, forms and other technical matters.

In a world where insurance policies are constantly changing, this group has been there to evaluate and identify issues proactively.

Since 1934 they have shared their ideas with ISO, ACORD, NCCI as well as various insurance companies who are forward thinking in product development. Simply put, this group gets results, and the meeting has become a venue for the exchange of knowledge, networking and learning. It is one of the most effective groups in the nation and they are becoming more and more known as they continue to drive change in a complex marketplace where agents can no longer simply be reactive.

The ability to read and understand insurance policies has become more critical than ever and a simple change of the word “or" to an “and" could preclude coverage. This group has seen agents/brokers grow in their knowledge and reputation, becoming true industry experts. Agents of change such as Bill Wilson, Greg Diemling, Chuck Schramm and others have all had a strong presence in these meetings, leaving their indelible mark.

Tim Wahl says, “It is the best way to learn about issues with policy forms and the best way an agent can help correct those forms". Tim would know, he has personally brought about countless new product ideas as well as policy language changes, as has Chris Boggs. Chris says, “If you want to make a difference in the industry from a coverage perspective, you want to be a part of this meeting."

Thanks to this group, I can say I am a better agent than I was prior, and I am confident I will be even stronger in the future. When I cannot find an answer, I am fortunate enough to know those who can, whether it be other agents or people with ISO, ACORD and NCCI.

What sort of agent do you want to be?  Is your state a member? Are you shaping policy?  When will you decide to be an Agent of Change? 

The 2022 conference is in Kansas City November 6-8. Become an Agent of Change and make the choice to be an even better agent tomorrow.

Learn more about the Mid-America Insurance Conference here.

First published: July 15, 2022