e-Insight - April 2020 - Member

APRIL 2020

INSIGHT

NAVIGATING OUR NEW “ NORMAL” REMOTE WORK RESOURCES FOR BUSINESS LEADERS AND EMPLOYEES

Plus

COVID-19 UPDATES FROM IIA OF IL

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Editor & Graphic Design - Rachel Romines

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CONTENTS

April 2020

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10 13 14 16 20 23 24 26 33

IIA of IL Working for You During COVID-19

By Evan Manning

How Coronavirus Will Impact Agents and Brokers

By Reagan Consulting

Navigating a Remote Workforce as a Business Leader: Now and Planning for the Future

By Jennifer Jacobs, SHRM-CP

Workplace Flexibility and Remote Work Best Practices

By Sharon Emek

Working From Home: Tips for Creating a New Normal

By Lauren Williams

Thoughts on Cyber Security from IIA of IL Tech Guru

By Nathan Boyd

Protect Yourself from Coronavirus Scams

By Scambusters

E&O Risk Management and the Coronavirus

By SwissRe Corporate Solutions

Katie School of Insurance Hosts Diversity Event

By Phil Lackman

In This Issue

The Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois (IIA of IL) has been providing members with a sustainable competitive advantage since 1899.

7 9 11 19 30

President’s Message Trusted Choice Government

e-Insight Associate News

31 34 36 37 38

IIA of IL News Board of Directors Profiles Industry News People in the News Classifieds

info@iiaofil.org | www.iiaofil.org | (800) 628-6436 or (217) 793-6660 | Fax: (217) 793-6744

2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 2014 • 2015 • 2016 • 2017 • 2019

Insight is the official publication of the Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois (IIA of IL). The magazine is published monthly for the members of the IIA of IL, with the office located at 4360 Wabash Avenue, Springfield, Illinois 62711-7009; Consumer Website: www.ChooseIndependent.com. The IIA of IL welcomes letters discussing concerns of the insurance industry, articles, editorials, other matters of interest to the membership. The editor reserves the right to edit and select submissions for publication. Address submissions for review to Rachel Romines at rromines@iiaofil.org. For advertising information, contact Tami Hubbell at thubbell@iiaofil.org.

ADVERTISERS

Board of Directors Executive Committee

Chairman of the Board | Patrick Muldowney (312) 595-7192 | patrick.muldowney@alliant.com

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APPLIED UNDERWRITERS

President | Bill Wirth (618) 939-6368 | billw@wirthagency.com

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BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY GUARD INS. GROUP

President-Elect | George Daly (708) 845-3311 | george.daly@thehortongroup.com

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EPAYPOLICY

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CIRCLES CONCIERGE SERVICE

Vice President | Jay Peterson, AFIS, LUTCF (217) 935-6605 | jay@peterson.insurance Secretary/Treasurer | Bennie Jones (312) 960-6206 | bjones@rmsoa.com IIABA National Director Gregory A. Sandrock, CIC, AFIS (815) 438-3923 | gregsandrock@2cornerstone.com

Regional Directors Region 1 | Lisa Lukens (618) 942-2556 | salibainsurance@gmail.com Region 2 | Joseph Heneghan (618) 639-2244 | joe.heneghan@hwcrins.com Region 3 | Christopher Leming (217) 321-3185 | cleming@troxellins.com Region 4 | Bart Hartauer, CIC (815) 223-1795 | hartauer@hartauer.com

2 32 5

GRINNELL MUTUAL REINSURANCE COMPANY IMT INSURANCE INSURANCE PROGRAM MANAGERS GROUP

39

KEYSTONE INSURANCE GROUP

22

RLI HOME BUSINESS

27

SWISSRE/WESTPORT

28

UTICA NATIONAL INSURANCE GROUP

8

W.A. SCHICKEDANZ/INTERSTATE RISK PLACEMENT

6

WEST BEND MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.

Region 5 | Nick Gunn, CIC (309) 691-1300 | nickgunn@nixonagency.com Region 6 | Thomas Evans, Jr. (779) 220-6564 | tevans@crumhalsted.com Region 7 | Neidra Crosby, CPIA, CISR (708) 597-8731 | ncrosby@insxchg.com Region 8 | Andrew Allan (773) 891-8000 | aallan@lakeviewins.com Region 9 | Ed Boltz, JD (630) 443-7300 | eboltz@crumhalsted.com Region 10 | Christopher Bassler, CLCS (847) 480-0800 | cbassler@basslerins.com At-Large Director | William Durkin (312) 629-0725 | durkinb@danielandhenry.com At-Large Director | Michael-Charles Hilson (708) 333-3378 | mhilson@gbgins.com At-Large Director | Ryan Hite (309) 688-7316 | ryan.hite@eaglerockins.com At-Large Director | Patrick Taphorn, CIC, CSRM (309) 347-2177 | ptaphorn@unland.com

Committee Chairs Budget & Finance | Bennie Jones (312) 960-6200 | bjones@rmsoa.com Education | Teresa Fleming, CIC, CISR (815) 849-5219 | tess@leffelmanassoc.com Farm Agents Council | Randy Jacobs (309) 365-3231 | rjacobs@mtco.com Government Relations | Kevin Lesch (630) 830-3232 | klesch@arachasgroup.com IIAPAC | Dustin Peterson (217) 935-6605 | dustin@peterson.insurance

IIA of Illinois Staff Director of Information and Technology Shannon Churchill - (217) 321-3004 - schurchill@iiaofil.org

Director of Government Relations Evan Manning - (217) 321-3002 - emanning@iiaofil.org

Director of Education and Agency Resources Brett Gerger - (217) 321-3006 - bgerger@iiaofil.org

Office Administrator Kristi Osmond - (217) 321-3007 - kosmond@iiaofil.org

Accounting & Admin Services Tami Hubbell - (217) 321-3016 - thubbell@iiaofil.org

Director of Communications Rachel Romines - (217) 321-3024 - rromines@iiaofil.org

Director of Human Resources, Board Admin Jennifer Jacobs - (217) 321-3013 - jjacobs@iiaofil.org

Director of Membership Services Tom Ross, CRIS, CPIA - (217) 321-3003 - tross@iiaofil.org

Sr. Vice President/Chief Financial Officer Mark Kuchar - (217) 321-3015 - mkuchar@iiaofil.org

Products & Services Administrator Janet White, CISR - (217) 321-3010 - jwhite.indep12@insuremail.net

Chief Executive Officer Phil Lackman - (217) 321-3005 - plackman@iiaofil.org

Director of Prof. Liability & Ins. Products Carol Wilson, CPIA - (217) 321-3011 - cwilson.indep12@insuremail.net

Central/Southern Marketing Representative Lori Mahorney - (217) 415-7550 - lmahorney@iiaofil.org

Planning & Coordination | Cindy K. Jackman, CIC, CISR (800) 878-9891 x8745 | cjackman@arlingtonroe.com Young Agents | Allyson Padilla (618) 393-2195 | allyson@blanksinsurance.com

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president's message | INSIGHT

Our Association is Here for ALL of Us IIA of IL Members, Despite the current state of affairs with COVID-19, more than anything, I hope this letter finds you and your family staying healthy.

Over the past weeks, many of our member agencies throughout the state have adapted to working remotely and most importantly, our clients continue to be well served. The IIA office staff in Springfield has also adapted to working remotely and business continues as normal as normal can be. As an association, we’ve been adapting as needed. In March, prior to Executive Order 2020-10 being issued, we proactively modified our quarterly IIA of IL board meeting by conducting a “virtual board meeting” rather than asking board members throughout the state to travel to Springfield. We’ve made arrangements to change or postpone a number of upcoming events and classes and will continue to communicate as timelines unfold.

Your IIA of IL staff has been working tirelessly developing and updating the IIA of IL COVID-19 Resource Page at www.iiaofil.org/Covid-19-Resources. If you haven’t done so already, please bookmark and review this valuable resource. As agents, many of us are receiving multiple phone calls on a daily basis asking about Business Income coverage. Within this resource page, you will find a number of articles and/or webinars addressing this issue.

You will also find important information from E & O carriers on this page as well.

Clearly, this pandemic and the related consequences of the Stay at Home Order, as well as the order that went into effect on March 16th banning indoor eating and drinking, are having an immediate impact everywhere. Without some form of immediate relief, the results will likely be devastating for some of our clients. Obviously, the long term impact remains unknown. Fortunately, as an industry, we provide essential products/services that everyone needs. However, the longer businesses remain closed, the more their sales and payrolls will be reduced. As a result, eventually our member agencies, some more than others, will feel the financial impact as well.

Eventually this will pass and life will get back to the way it was just weeks ago. We won’t think twice about attending school activities, going out to dinner with friends and family, or planning vacations. Meanwhile, enjoy every minute of any extra time you may be getting to spend with your loved ones (even if your children keep beating you at your favorite card game).

Wishing you all the best.

Bill Wirth - IIA of IL President - (618) 939-6368 - billw@wirthagency.com april 2020

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Free to do what's right for you.SM

TrustedChoice.com Makes Changes to “Recommended Agencies” Feature TrustedChoice.com has recently announced improvements to the recommendation engine on TrustedChoice.com giving an enhanced experience to insurance shoppers and agents.

It’s easy to activate your Member Plus agency profile. Go to www.iiaofil.org/Portals/1/Documents/ MemberPlusUpgrade.pdf to view step-by-step instructions.

Effective March 31, TrustedChoice.com no longer actively recommends agencies to insurance shoppers visiting TrustedChoice.com, unless the agency being recommended is properly registered with an Advantage agency profile or a Member Plus agency profile.

All other Trusted Choice agencies will continue to be listed in the Trusted Choice Agency Directory, as they always have. Because the IIA of IL is a State SEO Partner of TrustedChoice.com, all Illinois members are eligible to activate their Member Plus profile for FREE right away.

Once you activate your Member Plus profile, you will stay in the recommendation engine. When an insurance shopper enters their needs in the recommendation engine, Member Plus agencies will be recommended so long as they match those needs.

april 2020

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INSIGHT | government

IIA of IL Working for You During COVID-19 These are extraordinary, uncertain and unprecedented times we are enduring. During these times, it is imperative to be educated on pertinent information and updates surrounding your industry. As we look to support our agents, producers, company partners, customers, and communities during the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to highlight some of our recent efforts.

IIA of IL staff has been working feverishly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. While most of the staff work from home, it has not impacted our availability to our members.

In the last few weeks we have developed a COVID-19 resource page located on the homepage of the IIA of IL website (iiaofil.org) to help educate our members. As a reminder, we continue to send out our weekly newsletter, e-Weekly, that contains informative articles concerning the insurance industry. In addition, we continue to upload my weekly legislative updates that focus on the activity of the Governor’s Office, Illinois Department of Insurance (DOI), the General Assembly, and other pertinent information across the state. I encourage all of you to visit our website for the most up-to-date information available to our members.

Phil Lackman (CEO of IIA of IL), Brett Gerger (Director of Education and Agency Resources), and I have been on daily conference calls with our company partners and various state and national trade associations. During these calls, we are sharing information, developing proposals, strategies, and joint messages to the Department of Insurance and the Governor’s Office.

Brett Gerger recently went on a local Springfield radio show with Kevin Martin of the Illinois Insurance Association to provide insight into the insurance process including why most Business Income/Interruption Insurance sold in the state do not cover the COVID-19 pandemic. Phil Lackman was interviewed by the State Journal-Register regarding Business Income/Interruption Insurance coverage for COVID-19.

IIA of IL, our company partners, state and national trade associations have been in constant communication with the DOI and the Governor’s Office to provide insight and assistance in any way. In a recent conference call with the DOI and various stakeholders in the insurance industry, the DOI indicated that they are not considering retroactive Business Income/Interruption coverage for the virus at this point. The focus of the call centralized on how the insurance industry could help during the crisis.

DOI representatives and representatives of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) asked for the insurance industry’s help raising capital for the Governor’s efforts. IIA of IL and stakeholders will continue to meet to discuss how we can best help in providing relief during the pandemic.

Letter to Governor Pritzker and Director Robert Muriel Before the Governor’s “stay-at-home” order, IIA of IL and the Coalition of Insurance Agents and Brokers sent Governor Pritzker and Director Robert Muriel of the Illinois DOI a letter outlining several critical requests. In this letter, we requested insurance companies, agencies, and employees be considered as essential services and 10

insight

By Evan Manning

operations. This request was successful as Insurance Services is included as an Essential Services and Operations under the Governor’s Professional Services criteria.

Also in the letter, we requested an imposition of an insurer moratorium on cancellation and non-renewals for all lines of insurance policies including commercial and individual policies. Illinois has previously issued moratoriums during times of disaster declarations. We believe such an announcement will provide consumers with some level of certainty regarding their personal or business coverage during this extreme time of uncertainty. Like past moratoriums, we would recommend this take effect with the date of the Governor’s Executive Order dating back to March 8, 2020. As of writing this article, the DOI has not issued this guidance, however many companies are taking a proactive approach and instituting this practice.

Insurance agents and brokers are their policyholders’ strongest advocates and best source of trusted advice.

Illinois policyholders must be able to count on this support during the pandemic and its aftermath. In light of restrictions on gatherings and travel, social distancing recommendations, and direct and indirect health aspects, insurance agents and brokers will face increased difficulty in obtaining the required continuing education credits and renewing their individual and corporate licenses. As such, we requested that the Department grant a grace period for Continuing Education (CE) and license renewal requirements for the duration of the current Disaster Proclamation. Additionally, we asked that the DOI allow continuing education courses filed as classroom be able to be presented in a webinar format without having to re-file the class with the Department.

At the time of writing this article, no action has been taken by the DOI in response to this request. However, the DOI is drafting a bulletin providing guidance to insurers, producers and consumers during the Disaster Proclamation. It is our understanding that the bulletin will extend licensing renewal applications beginning March 12, 2020 until June 30, 2020. The DOI will be waiving any associated late fees during that time. Additionally, all continuing education and pre-licensing providers who have classroom approval courses on file with the Department may offer these courses as a webinar. The guidance shall be in effect for such time as the Disaster Proclamation is in effect, or until modified by the Director, whichever is sooner.

The IIA of IL has a robust webinar program which includes sessions to meet your ethics requirement as well as E&O credit. Also, please visit ilprelicensing.com for more information on the pre-licensing courses being offered.

The IIA of IL will continue to work diligently for our members and their policyholders during their time of greatest need. We stand ready and willing to assist you in any way necessary. Now is a great time to be part of a strong association and take advantage of your membership by utilizing the resources made available to you.

Evan Manning is the Director of Government Relations for the IIA of IL and can be reached at emanning@iiaofil.org. april 2020

government | INSIGHT

White House and Congress Reach Deal on Coronavirus Stimulus Relief Package

By Evan Manning

The first two phases of coronavirus (COVID-19) federal packages were passed without a hitch. The same cannot be said about Phase 3. After days of intense negotiations, the White House and Congress have agreed on a bipartisan deal known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The recently passed legislation is a $2.2 trillion stimulus package designed to ease the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This article provides preliminary details of the legislation and any changes and additional information will be updated on the IIA of IL website.

The legislation focuses on four urgent priorities to deliver aid to small businesses to avoid insolvencies and to keep paychecks flowing, provide recovery checks and unemployment insurance directly to the American people, appropriate additional funding and resources for the healthcare fight against COVID-19, and stabilize key industries to prevent mass layoffs.

The legislation provides recovery checks to most taxpayers, providing cash immediately to individuals and families.

Individuals will receive checks up to $1,200 per adult making up to $75,000 a year, and $2,400 for a married couple making up to $150,000, with $500 payments per child. Eligibility for recovery checks is reduced starting at $75,000 in 2018 income for individuals and $150,000 in 2018 income for joint filers. Individuals with 2018 income exceeding $99,000 and joint filers with 2018 income exceeding $198,000 are ineligible.

The bill includes $250 billion to expand unemployment benefits by $600 a week for up to four months. The amount is in addition to the state benefit amount and not a replacement of state benefits. The unemployment portion of the bill brought out some contention for some Republican Senators. Those concerns were tampered down in order to come to a deal.

The new federal stimulus relief bill provides a $377 billion program for small businesses to help prevent people from losing their jobs and small businesses from going under due to the economic loss caused by the pandemic. The Paycheck Prevention Program would provide eight weeks of cash-flow assistance through 100% federally guaranteed loans to small employers who maintain their payroll during this emergency. If the employer maintained its payroll, then a portion of the loan can be used for payroll costs, interest on mortgage obligations, rent, and utilities would be forgiven, which would help workers to remain employed and affected small businesses and the economy to recover faster.

Small employers with 500 employees or fewer, as well as those that meet the current Small Business Administration (SBA) size standards are eligible for the Paycheck Prevention Program. The program is also available to self-employed individuals and “gig economy” individuals, and certain nonprofits, including 501(c)(3) organizations april 2020

and 501(c)(19) veteran organizations, and tribal business concerns with under 500 employees. Loans for small business would cover salary, wages, and benefits, worth 250% of an employer’s monthly payroll, with a maximum of $10 million. Any business that accepts a loan is not eligible for payroll tax deferral.

Speaking of payroll tax deferral, the bill allows employers who continued to employ workers during the COVID-19 pandemic would be eligible to defer paying payroll taxes through 2020. Employers would have to repay 50% of the 2020 amounts in 2021 and the remaining 50% in 2022. Taxes would still need to be paid, and as I stated previously, businesses who utilized the federal small business loan program would not be eligible for the payroll tax deferral.

The legislation also postpones the filing of tax returns and payment of those taxes from April 15, 2020 until July 15, 2020. The includes all individual filers as well as corporate entities that file Form 1120. The legislation also allows individuals required to make estimated payments to postpone them until October 15, 2020. In late March, Illinois also extended the filing and payment of taxes to July 15, 2020. However, 2020 Illinois estimated taxes due April 15, 2020 still need to be made.

The CARES Act also includes funding to support America’s healthcare system in the fight against COVID-19. $242 billion would be set aside in additional emergency funding to fight the virus and shore up for safety net programs. Funding will go to increase supply of drugs and equipment, including ventilators and masks, increased hiring for vital health care jobs during the crisis, speeding up the development of a vaccine, treatments, and faster diagnosis. The legislation will make all COVID-19 tests free and requires private insurance plans to cover COVID-19 treatments and vaccines.

The CARES Act also sets up the Exchange Stabilization Fund through the U.S. Treasury Department to address the severely distressed industries in order to stabilize the economy. The legislation will inject $500 billion into the account, $425 billion of which will be used for loans and guarantees to support credit facilities that will be established by the federal Reserve. Finally, the legislation creates the Coronavirus Relief Fund providing $150 billion to States, Territories, and Tribal governments to use for expenditures due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the revenue decline they have endured. $1.24 billion is the minimum for states with relatively small populations.

Please don’t forget to visit our website at iiaofil.org for additional information.

Evan Manning is the Director of Government Relations for the IIA of IL and can be reached at emanning@iiaofil.org.

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Taking care of everything from the ordinary to the extraordinary.

ASSIST. INFORM. SUPPORT. If your organization has been directly affected by the worldwide health threat, Circles Concierge can help alleviate some of the difficulties associated with this temporary situation by assisting with:

Information about COVID-19 in the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov

Support Alternative Travel Arrangements

Employee

Sourcing office supplies & remote workspace needs

Solutions to extend company culture to a remote workforce

check-ins

Coronavirus advisory information World Health Organization www.who.int/emergencies Coronavirus Q&A World Health Organization www.who.int/news-room

CONTACT US TODAY www.iiaofil.org/circles

Shannon Churchill, IIA of IL schurchill@iiaofil.org | (217) 321-3004

How Coronavirus Will Impact Agents and Brokers

By Reagan Consulting

We are aware of the massive disruptions currently facing every individual and industry in the US as a result of the Coronavirus. Some people, firms, and segments of our economy will be affected more significantly than others.

In the big picture, those of us in the insurance distribution space (both wholesale and retail agents and brokers) are more fortunate for a number of reasons, including: • People and businesses cannot stop buying insurance. We are not selling optional luxury goods.

• The majority of agent/broker income will continue despite the downturn in payroll and receipts.

• Future revenues are likely to be buoyed by the potential hardening of the P&C and Health markets.

• Agent/Brokers’ work remains largely uninterrupted as they can effectively serve the insureds from remote locations through email, phone, and electronic conferencing.

• The value of brokers will hold up better than most companies in other industries as evidenced by a current comparison of the broker stocks to other market segments. As further evidence, in the middle of our country’s economic collapse in 2008 and 2009, the median agent/broker in our database saw their annual per share values drop less than 2%, while other industry segments saw values drop by 50, 60 or 70% or more.

• As a result of the above factors, our segment of the economy and insurance market (insurance distribution) is truly a safe harbor and will continue to be perceived as such by those looking to remain privately-held and those looking to make investments in our space.

Further, as we adapt to “self-quarantining” and “social distancing” through reduced business travel, video conferencing, and working remotely, we will find that many will get comfortable with these changes and learn how well they can work and why these practices may be preferable. If consumers and trading partners find these habits preferable and they become more acceptable, it could change the competitive landscape. In the past, the fact that one broker was located across the street from the insured and one was located across the country made a difference. If video conferencing becomes preferable, the broker across the country will enjoy a more level playing field.

With the immense difficulties that many insureds are going to have over the next six to twelve months, life for agents and brokers will be challenging as well. We will find many insureds unable, or at least slow to pay their premiums and will have to deal with insolvencies (although the government may provide a backstop and prevent much of this). It will also require agents and brokers to find ways to respond to their insureds’ financial and operating challenges as their insureds change/ adapt the way they are forced to do business. This may simultaneously cause agents and brokers to “elevate their games” through more effective management of data, more effective use of technology, strategic alignment with other peer organizations or providers and the elimination of inefficiencies. To the extent that “necessity is the mother of invention”, our industry will be faced with necessities that will compel invention, creativity, flexibility and elevated performance.

One final thought for all of us to consider. To the extent that we are in an industry that has performed exceptionally for the last ten years and an industry that will weather the storm better than most, we have an opportunity, if not a responsibility, to look around us and seek to help those that will be suffering in the coming months. There are many waiters and waitresses that will lose their jobs with “in-restaurant” dining being suspended. Many of those associated with hotels and airlines will suffer. There are a lot of highly leveraged businesses selling discretionary products and services that will suffer. All of the charities and non-profits that rely on contributions will likely have to cut back services and staffing. We would encourage everyone within our industry to look around in your community and find those that need your help and be willing to provide it to them. “To whom much is given, much is expected.” *This document includes only general information and should not be relied upon as legal, tax or compliance advice.

Reagan Consulting is a management consulting firm providing strategic consulting, valuation, and mergerand-acquisition (M&A) services to the independent insurance distribution system. For more information visit reaganconsulting.com.

We have an opportunity, if not a responsibility, to look around us and seek to help those that will be suffering in the coming months. april 2020

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Navigating a Remote Workforce

as a

Business Leader:

Now and Planning for the Future

By Jennifer Jacobs, SHRM-CP

Recently, many businesses have been forced to make decisions related to remote work, some without having prior experience or policies in place. As a result, employers are left wondering what the business should be doing now, and in the future, to prepare for various remote work scenarios?

Employers new to remote work have likely spent time reviewing employees’ core job functions and whether or not they have the skills and tools needed to complete these functions from a remote location. They have made any necessary changes to workflows and procured any essential tools and programs to get a remote work force started.

Now those managing a newly-remote workforce during a particularly challenging time for businesses, consumers, and employees must learn how to communicate with employees working outside of the office.

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A successful communication plan will begin by emphasizing the primary goals of the business during the pandemic as typical business strategies focused on sales will need to be shifted to promote service and retention of current customers.

Next, set overall expectations for employee availability and response time for phone calls and emails. A typical remote work scenario would have employees available by phone and email during regular business hours. However, in the current situation with children out of school and daycare, some employees may be more productive and better able to reply to email during early morning hours or later in the evening when there is less demand for their attention. Employees may also be vying for internet bandwidth or access to their personal computers or printers if they are using personal equipment for remote work. Managers should also set individual goals for employees that focus on deliverables and completion of objectives. april 2020

Build a sense of purpose and community by sharing successes or stories of how the organization has helped a client or the community. You may also find fun ways to engage your team via email or video such as sharing photos from their remote-work space or of kids or pets at home, or by sending out an ice-breaker topic such as: What shows are you watching?; Favorite book or movie?; What do you miss most about the office?; or experiment with other ways to keep your team connecting via email, chat or video.

In addition to communicating with your team, if you haven’t recently done so, take time to review contingency plans for each position within your business and ensure employees are cross-trained on essential functions in the event an employee becomes ill or is unable to work for any reason.

Preparing for the Future Employers that did not have a policy in place prior to COVID-19 may be wondering how to proceed after the threat of the pandemic has passed.

Businesses should draft a policy setting the expectations around remote work for the future. Whether the employer plans to implement remote work on a regular basis, or only in the event of emergency situations, consider the following: When will your business allow or implement remote work?

• During disaster or emergency situations? When inclement weather has closed schools?

• In the event of employee or dependent illness when the employee may be well enough to work, but may be contagious or is responsible for caregiving for a family member?

• On a flexible basis such as 2-3 times per week?

• As needed or by request for personal reasons such as a delivery or repair at home?

Which employees or positions will be eligible for certain remote work scenarios?

How will equipment be handled?

• Employees use their own equipment, following company security protocols.

• Company-provided equipment that may be checked in and out for infrequent remote-work days.

• Company-provided equipment that is assigned to individual employees?

• Time keeping practices for non-exempt employees, such as tracking time for all work done and a process for obtaining approval for overtime hours.

• Expectation that remote employees comply with all rules and policies of the business as if they were physically at the workplace.

• A statement addressing telecommuting and caring for a child or other dependent. Typically, telecommuting is not a substitute for regular dependent care; however, exceptions may be approved in circumstances where regular dependent care is not available.

• Rules and policies specifying that company-provided equipment remains the property of the business, security settings will not be changed, business equipment use is limited to employees only and business equipment must be returned upon termination of employment.

• Employment policies regarding data security will be followed to protect proprietary company and customer information. Reinforce protocols for theft or loss of equipment and data breach.

• Expense reimbursement policy delineating what expenses will be reimbursed for remote employees. Under Illinois law, workers that are required to work at home, vs those having the option to do so, must be compensated for necessary business expenses related to the remote work.

• Employees will maintain a safe and secure remote-work environment and report any work-related injuries to management.

• Management retains the right to modify this agreement on a temporary or permanent basis for any reason at any time.

Having an emergency remote work plan in place will help keep businesses operating during times of crisis and will ensure employees understand the parameters of remote work. Employers that choose to implement more extensive plans may also find this a valuable tool for attracting and retaining employees.

Jennifer Jacobs, SHRM-CP, is the Director of Human Resources for the IIA of IL. She can be reached at jjacobs@ iiaofil.org.

Once these decisions surrounding remote work are made, employers should draft a remote work policy and agreement that includes the policy decisions listed above and the following components that the employee will agree to: • All terms and conditions of employment with the company remain unchanged, except those specifically addressed in this agreement.

• Expectations for employee availability during business hours, including parameters for breaks and meal periods for non-exempt employees.

april 2020

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Workplace Flexibility and Remote Work Best Practices Modern technology – secure remote connectivity, the Cloud, collaborative software, VoIP phones, and smart phones – is disrupting the way we work and providing opportunities for remote out-of-office work. Many managers and employees are already working outside the office using their personal devices, but typically on an ad hoc basis without clearly written remote work best practices. Employers may have implemented security measures to protect their systems and data, but they rarely address the larger trend issue of remote work, also referred to as telecommuting. Remote-work best practices is not just about technology and security; it is also about the needs of people and companies. This guide will discuss the various types of remote-work options and best practices for organizations to implement a successful remote work and work-life fit program.

Technology has transformed every part of our work and life. The 9-to-5 workday has been rapidly disappearing as more employees do some of their job outside the office.

According to a recent study done by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 59% of U.S. employers allow employees to work from locations outside the office. This trend will continue to grow. Some employers still believe that a flexible work arrangement is strictly an employee benefit, but most have recognized that giving employees the ability to work outside the office has made employees more productive and has greatly benefitted the business. It has also led to the blurring of personal and work life and the expectation that we must always be available.

Managers still have not overcome their concerns about employees working remotely. Many still believe that they can only manage people if they are physically in the office where they can see them, but research has shown that managing people by sight doesn’t guarantee productivity or quality outcomes. The new prevailing philosophy focuses on results, on meeting goals and completing tasks on time, whether all the work is done in the office, in a combination of in-office and remote work or totally remote.

The new best-practices management approach focuses on outcomes, not suppositions. The emphasis is on flexible work arrangements and on finding and keeping talent, which may mean accommodating diverse physical locations and non-traditional work- life fit arrangements.

According to the American Staffing Association’s Workforce Monitor statistics, SHRM and other research, for most employees, work-life balance and schedule flexibility rank higher that pay.

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By Sharon Emek

The Research on Working Remote There is a sufficient body of research about the effectiveness of remote work/work-life fit programs. The findings are consistent.

Companies that implement flexible remote work arrangements believe they benefit from: • Increased productivity; • Decreased employee turnover; • Increased ability to attract talent; • Decreased sick days; • Decreased overhead; • Reduced environmental imprint.

Employees say: • They are more productive and get more work done.

• They appreciate the flexibility.

• They are happier because they enjoy the flexibility.

• They feel more valued than those in the office.

• They feel it is beneficial to their family and their wellbeing.

• They have increased job satisfaction.

Overall, when people work from home, they start earlier and take shorter breaks. Contrary to popular opinion, they do not run errands at lunch, and they work until the end of the day.

The Three Types of Remote Work Arrangements There are basically three types of remote work.

• As-Needed Remote Work – Someone who needs to work from home on an as needed basis or a company emergency situation, e.g., a sick child, a challenging weather or a pandemic.

• A Flexible Work Arrangement – someone who works from home part of the time on a regular basis.

• A Remote Worker – someone who works from home 100% of the time.

As-Needed/On-Demand Remote Work Every company faces a number of attendance issues. They can range from: • Office power outage • Inclement weather • An employee is ill • An employee has a sick family member • An employee has a personal appointment or home maintenance need requiring him/her to be at home.

For an organization to function optimally, it should provide all employees with the option to work from home temporarily. If staff cannot get to the office because of april 2020

inclement weather or if an employee has to stay home to care for a sick child, they should be able to work from home and not lose a personal day. By not providing all employees the ability to work remotely on an as needed basis, agencies lose valuable hours of productivity.

Today, no one – not an employee or an employer – should lose valuable time if an employee misses a day in-office for a legitimate reason. By not allowing people to work from home on an as-needed basis, employees lose personal days; staff who cover feel overwhelmed; customers do not get the service they need, and the returning employee needs to play catchup. Everyone loses.

Flexible Work Arrangements Flexible work arrangements accommodate the needs of employees and agencies. More companies are recognizing that to keep talent, they need to accommodate the life needs of their employees. Work-life fit comes in many sizes, such as: • Arriving later to work to see kids off to school, then working core hours at the office, returning when kids come home from school and working at the end of the day to complete the hours needed for finishing the day’s work.

• Working from home one, two or three days a week to meet family and work obligations.

A Remote Worker As local talent has become more difficult to find, companies have recognized that a fully remote qualified employee may be another option for recruiting talent. A fully remote worker works from a home office and may never or rarely come to the office. With the proper setup, qualified remote workers are highly productive.

There are a few reasons why an employer should consider a remote worker: • Many employers have experienced the all-too familiar conversation with a productive employee who explains that she/he needs to resign because she/he is moving.

Finding a qualified replacement and transferring the client relationship is far more difficult than setting up the employee to work from home. And for the employee, finding a new, satisfying job may be very difficult. With today’s technology, no excellent employee needs to resign because she/he is moving.

• Many employers can’t find the talent within driving distance to their backyard. An experienced remote worker is more effective and far less costly than settling for a revolving door of the wrong talent.

Creating a Successful Remote Work Program An effective flexible remote work program must meet the needs of the company and the individual. A flex-work arrangement is of course not for every employee. Some people prefer only working in the office and some don’t have the discipline to work from home. From a pragmatic and customer-service perspective, all companies should implement the “As Needed/On-Demand Remote Work” option. It is the easiest to implement, monitor and see results.

These are some recommended steps management should take in determining what options might work for the organization.

1. Evaluate each of the positions and determine if an employee’s physical presence is required full-time, parttime or never, except for periodic meetings.

2. Decide which remote work programs might be viable work options for you.

3. Identify which employees have sufficient institutional knowledge and experience to be considered for a flex/ remote work arrangement.

4. Evaluate the different communication and collaborative tools such as Skype and GoToMeeting.

5. Develop a guide for each type of remote work option.

6. Decide on a pilot program and on a trial group of staff for the pilot. For example, the pilot program might allow a trial group to work from home one day a week, scheduling the home days on different days so that they are not all working from home on the same day.

7. Schedule a company-wide meeting to discuss flex-work arrangements and the positions and level of experience that a flex-work arrangement would be suited for.

Afterwards, have managers meet with each of their eligible staff to determine the level of interest in a workflex arrangement.

8. Train the entire staff on how to use the communication and collaborative tools.

9. Implement, monitor and evaluate the pilot program.

Below are some of the key areas to include in the Remote Work Guide. Crucial are the home office setup and security, which are further outlined below.

• A description of the various remote work arrangements; • Corporate policies and procedures for remote work; • Company-wide and department meeting times; • Rules and guidelines for family during work hours, such as interruptions, noise, etc.; • Child-care policy; • Home office setup requirements; • Security requirements; • Home computers maintenance guideline.

Include helpful hints for employees when they work from home, such as • Taking quick periodic breaks • Taking time to eat lunch • Know when to stop and log out • Reinforcing work rules with family, friends and neighbors The Home Office Whether an employee works at home on an as needed home-life basis, on a regular flex-schedule or a telecommuting, a home office should be setup in a separate room where the door can be closed so as not to be disturbed while working. Most homes today already have some type of home office setup. The home office should include the following: • A desk large enough for computer and other equipment.

• A PC or laptop with a minimum of 4GB RAM, a webcam, speakers and a second monitor. Hardware requirements can vary depending on the remote connection setup desired.

• Multiple monitors for efficiency.

• High speed modem with a wireless router. The download (DL) and upload (UL) speed should be sufficient to support both the remote applications required and an internet phone. The current recommended DL speed is 50 mbps and upload speed 20 mbps. continued...

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• A smartphone or VoIP handset or headset. Most companies today use a VoIP phone systems A VoiP phone system can provide the ability for calls to be forwarded to a smart phone, transcriptions of the call in an email, and the use of a handset or headset through a wireless internet router from a remote location. For flexwork and full remote work arrangements, the employee should be provide with a VoIP handset or headset. This acts like an extension on the company’s phone system.

• For the best connection possible, outdated equipment should be replaced. Cable modems from internet providers are typically available to be swapped out at no charge. Cable modems should be replaced every year or so. Router technology has advanced significantly in recent years and newer models offer tremendous speed and reliability over their predecessors.

Security Security should not be left to the employees to implement on their devices. Security should be controlled and managed by the employer.

1. For employees who may occasionally work from home, provide them with remote access from their home computer to their office desktop.

2. For employees who work from home a few days a week or all of the time, provide them with a dedicated inexpensive laptop that is secure and setup just as you would an employee’s desktop at the office.

3. Basic security measures should be implemented whether a company supplied laptop or an employee’s home desktop or laptop: • The user sign on must have a strong password with a minimum of 8 characters, including a combination of capitals and lower case letters,numbers and a special character. If there are others in the household who use the desktop or laptop, they must have a separate sign on.

• The desktop or laptop must be configured to manually enter passwords to the organization’s system and any website logins.

• Client information is confidential. If there are others in the household using the same desktop or laptop, the employee must sign off the remote session or business applications whenever the employee leaves her/his desk.

• Login details and passwords should not be written on pieces of paper and never written on a post it and stuck to a computer screen.

• The employee must have a secure, private wireless connection.

• Microsoft and operating system updates should be working properly and updating automatically.

• A paid version of anti-virus software should be installed and renewed annually.

• A Microsoft firewall, or another firewall that may come with the antivirus, should be on and active.

• If a provided laptop, the employee should not be allowed to download other applications without permission. If the employee’s desktop or laptop, the policy should be that employee can only download applications that come from reliable sources. Because applications (e.g., games, mobile apps, coupon sites) may contain viruses or malware, it’s important to know and trust the source of an application before downloading it.

4. Clear procedures should be written and followed for logging off and closing the computer when not in use.

5. Educate and train employees on security issues and requirements.

6. Establish a periodic schedule to check all remote devices.

Some Pitfalls to Avoid • Avoid micromanaging, the #1 deterrent to productive and successful remote work.

• Not communicating on a regular basis.

• Not inviting remote staff to meetings.

• Not checking the activity reports to see productivity.

• Not spot checking the actual work being done.

Whether in the office or working from home, if you provide employees with clear expectations, realistic metrics for success based on results, and the proper tools to get the work done, they will get it done.

Summary To keep and attract talent, all companies will need to have a policy with best practices to accommodate work flexibility.

Research has clearly shown that for most employees who have any type of remote work arrangement, they: • Met their goals more reliably • Were more productive • Were happier • Were healthier • Experienced less stress Businesses have benefitted greatly as well with increased productivity, talent retention and lower overhead.

We all recognize that the latest advances in technology has disrupted many industries; but we haven’t fully recognized how it is disrupting how and where we work as well as how we will manage people. All businesses will need to adapt to flexible work arrangements to find and keep talent and adapt managing people without borders. New employee generations will expect it, and because we are living longer, so will older employee generations expect it as they will work beyond the historical 65-year retirement age. The future work paradigm will be that the right work with the right person can be done from anywhere.

Sharon Emek is the CEO and President of Work At Home Vintage Experts (WAHVE). To view more on the program, go to www.iiaofil.org and click on Products & Services.

e INSIGHT -

online journal at www.iiaofil.org/Resources/Insight

AP RI L 20 20

INSIGH T

NAVIG OUR N ATING “ NORM EW” AL REMOT EW

ORK RESOU BUSIN RCES FOR E AND E SS LEADER MPLOY S EES

Plus

COVID -1 UPDAT 9 FROM ES IIA OF IL

Check out the IIA of IL COVID-19 Resource Website Updated

Updated Daily

- IIA of IL Updates - Insurance Issues - Agency Operations - Additional Resources & Articles and Illinois Information - Outbreak Information, Maps and Updates - Quick Tips and Questions You Should be Asking in Your Agency

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WORKING FROM HOME Tips for Creating a

NEW NORMAL

By Lauren Williams In this age of social distancing, an increasing number of people are being made to say goodbye to their morning commutes and work from the safety of their homes. Many employees may find this to be a difficult adjustment from their normal routine and might fear their productivity will suffer. However, you’ll probably find you love working from home once you find the processes that work for you.

According to Work At Home Vintage Experts (WAHVE), employees who work from home say they are more productive and have increased job satisfaction. Here are some tips on how to maximize your productivity and satisfaction as you create your new normal.

Dedicate Your Workspace Pick a quiet, well-lit area where you can get in the right mindset. You’ll want to be free from all distractions - the kids, the dog, the TV, even the Amazon delivery man - so you can focus on the task at hand. Having a separate workspace away from where you do your day-to-day living will help your brain switch into “work” mode. Try to stick to working in the same place every day. The longer you spend working there, the more productive you’ll be able to be.

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You should also make sure you’re comfortable in the workspace you choose. After all, you’ll be spending a lot of time there. One of the biggest perks about working from home is that you can control your environment. Set the thermostat at whatever temperature you want. Play the music you want to listen to. And don’t be afraid to splurge a little on items that could increase your productivity and comfortability, such as an ergonomic chair. You’ll be thanking yourself in the long run.

Most importantly, the space you’re working in will need to offer you a strong internet connection. Speedier internet will help increase your productivity. You’ll also need to make sure your connection is secure. Security is just as important as aesthetic design when creating your home workspace. Some employers will ask you to use a VPN in order to protect documents and client information. This will give you a secure and encrypted connection and prevent attackers on your network from stealing any files you may be sharing over the internet.

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Set a Schedule A successful day of working from home doesn’t need to start at 5 a.m. Create a routine that’s comfortable for you. Start planning your day the night before, making a to-do list of your tasks and determining what time your meetings will be, if you have any. If you schedule your time out the night before, you’ll be able to get right to work the next morning.

Divide the day up in periods of deep and shallow work.

In times when you know you’ll be most productive, work on the things that will require the most attention.

Keep in regular contact with your boss and coworkers to hold each other accountable.

Apps like Slack and Microsoft Teams can help you communicate and keep track of what needs to be worked on.

Make sure you’re also scheduling time for breaks, and that you’re taking them in their entirety. This will be good for both your eyes and your sanity. Take five and step outside for a walk around the block. Grab a snack or a cup of coffee. Call a friend to socialize. And most importantly, schedule time for lunch. Block off an hour and let coworkers and clients know you won’t be available during that period.

You need to take care of yourself, and that means you have to eat!

Dress for Work You don’t need to dress up to the nines but putting on a professional outfit in the morning will help you adjust to your new routine and give you a sense of a workplace.

Shop your closet for business-casual pieces that combine fashion and function. Choose brighter colors that will help boost your mood. Wear shoes, too. You probably wouldn’t walk around the office barefoot!

All this will help put your brain into productivity mode and will encourage you to keep your camera on during video meetings. Keeping your camera on will prevent you from getting distracted and missing important details. It will also make for a more personable and communicative meeting and will help you feel more connected with the rest of your office. Team building is still an important part of work experience, especially when you’re working from home.

Feeling connected to your coworkers will help you enjoy your work that much more.

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Maintain a Work/Life Balance Establish clear guidelines for when you’re going to work and when you’ll call it a day. The number of hours you work can differ based on your daily task load, but make sure you’ve set a specific time when you’re going to sign off. Turn off notifications from work when it’s time to switch over to “home” mode. Try making two separate profiles on your computer, one for work use and one for personal use, to help keep everything from bleeding together.

In that same vein, make sure you aren’t focused on inhome tasks while you’re working. Save your household chores for after your work is done. Ensure you’re communicating to the other people in your home when you are working and when you’ll be signing off.

Most importantly, stay away from social media and the television. There will be plenty of time for that later since you won’t have to worry about rush hour traffic After you’ve signed out for the day, make sure to invest time in your own physical and mental well-being. Find a home workout that you enjoy. Try out some yoga, maybe even meditation. Drink lots of water, eat healthy meals that keep you energized, and make sure you’re getting enough sleep at night. You won’t be able to work effectively if you aren’t taking care of yourself!

It will most likely take some trial and error to find what exactly works for you in your home environment. After all, productivity is just a series of habits that take time to cultivate. Luckily, your coworkers are probably going through the same struggle. Learn from each other and remember to stay positive. With a little patience, you’ll find your groove!

Lauren Williams is a Senior majoring in English at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. She spent the summer of 2019 working as an intern for IIA of IL and continues to be a guest writer for Insight magazine.

It will most likely take some trial and error to find what exactly works for you in your home environment.

After all, productivity is just a series of habits that take time to cultivate.

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HOME BUSINESS INSURANCE

DO YOU HAVE A CLIENT WHO RUNS A SMALL BUSINESS FROM HOME? WILL THEIR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE PROVIDE COVERAGE WHEN…

PROTECTION FOR HOME-BASED BUSINESSES!

• Business equipment is stolen out of their vehicle? . . . . . . . . . . . .

NO!

• They accidentally knock over the display next to them at an exhibition or show?

NO!

. . . . .

• Groceries spill onto inventory in the trunk of their car? . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NO!

• A power surge damages their computer and fax machine? . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NO!

• Someone steals their cash box?

NO!

. . . . . . .

Your customers are not home free with most homeowners policies. What would happen if your client had inventory damaged or stolen? Typical homeowners insurance does not cover those losses for people if they run a small business out of their home.

We are pleased to offer the perfect coverage for your in-home business: RLI’s Home Business Insurance policy.

Features: • Liability limits up to $1 million • • Business property protection up to $100,000 (with $250 deductible) • Optional Coverages Include: Money & Securities, Garagekeepers, Unmanned Aircraft (state restrictions apply)

Most homeowners and renters policies do not cover liability or damage to property from business activities.

• Electronic data processing coverage (optional in CA & FL) Policies are underwritten by RLI Insurance Company *Premiums start at $150 for $300,000 liability and $5,000 business personal property in the lowest rated class in the lowest rated territory. Actual price may be higher depending on your individual characteristics and coverages that you select. Not all businesses will qualify for coverage.

F O R M O R E INFO RMATION GO TO: www.iiaofil.org/Products-Services and click on Coverage for Your Clients or call Carol Wilson at (217) 321-3011 or Janet White at (217) 321-3010.

• Loss of income coverage • Premiums starting as low as $150 annually*

Rated A+ by A.M. Best Rated A+ by Standard & Poor’s RL I C O RP. C O M H B I -M K 5 0 3 AG T ( 0 5 / 1 7 )

Thoughts on Cyber Security from IIA of IL Tech Guru

By Nathan Boyd First and foremost, the drama of COVID-19 in modern society IS being taken advantage of by “hackers.” They are trusting that we’ll be distracted and off guard by current events.

This is commonly manifested in the following ways:

Social Engineering

I’m referring to the fake telephone calls from “Microsoft” or the “Social Security Administration” or “FedEx” or “UPS” or even pretending to be your IT Support department/ provider. These calls are commonly used to either gain direct access to computer systems by talking end users into remote control sessions or by “fishing” for enough detail to deduce passwords to use to gain entry to cloud systems.

Not Only Targeted at Businesses

These examples carry over into your personal lives as well.

NEVER let your guard down, always listen to the voice in the back of your mind. When in doubt, always ask someone else for a second opinion.

Advice for Small Businesses 1. Be skeptical about every bit of communication you receive, especially if you are not expecting it, until you can authenticate or verify the sender/caller. Your mind and vigilance is far more effective than any software or hardware tool available.

“Phishing” Emails

2. Look carefully at unexpected emails. If it’s fraudulent, there will almost always be a clue in the email, typically either in the sender Display Name/email address or in a link they want you to click on. Common grammar mistakes are also common giveaways.

“Spear-Phishing” Emails

3. Make sure your End User systems and Servers are updated. Several security exploits have come to light in the last six months that are beginning to be used in attacks. Many of these have been patched by recent updates.

There has been an uptick in the volume of fake emails mentioning Support for COVID-19, Hospital Officials, delinquent invoices, etc. Many of these include either links to malware or direct attachments.

These are a targeted type of Phishing that are commonly sent to specific users focused on the recipient or job function. For example, sending payment requests to Accounting while pretending to be from CEO/CFO, etc.

“Display Name Spoofing”

Emails like this have the Display Name set to be someone in your organization, but sent from a random Email address. For example, From: “Phil Lackman” <duckhunter76@gmail.com>. These are pretty easy to spot because the email address typically has no relation to the Display Name of the sender.

Misspelled Domain Names

Close misspellings of common domain names are also being created to help lend legitimacy to the “Phishing” emails of all types. For example, they may use @yhoo.com instead of @yahoo.com.

4. Engage your IT Support for additional suggestions

Final Thoughts Please understand that with the K-12 schools out, Colleges and Universities closed, and employees being sent to work from home in record number, your home Wi-Fi, your internet connection, and the national/global internet infrastructure is under incredible load.

In the coming days, you and everyone else WILL have some random hiccups in either working remotely or using cloud-based tools. These hiccups should not be showstoppers unless they become consistent. Contact your IT Support for specific guidelines.

Nathan Boyd is the Senior Systems Engineer for Matrix Systems Group, Inc. in Springfield, IL.

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Protect Yourself Protect Fr Fro om Coronavirus Scams

By Scambusters

If you recently read about a coronavirus cure, we hope you didn’t act on it. Because there isn’t one - so far at least.

Nor do you necessarily need to buy and wear a mask or invest in companies that will supposedly make a lot of money from this crisis. And beware of donating to fake charities claiming to be supporting research and treatment.

We’ll tell you more about these con tricks relating to pandemic disease outbreaks in the following article.

Let’s get started…

Coronavirus Cure Claims are Just Scams We’d all be delighted, wouldn’t we, if someone announced a coronavirus cure? Of if there was a simple way to protect against coronavirus. Like coronavirus masks, vaccines, or pills that were guaranteed to work.

Well, as with all pandemics and global virus outbreaks, there’s no shortage of people claiming they’ve got just these solutions. They’ve got the cure; they’ve got the drugs; they’ve got the protective masks.

Of course, most of them are scams. As of this writing, there is no cure, not even a tested vaccine. There are no miracle pills.

And most masks offer only limited protection. For instance, if you touch an infected object and later touch your unguarded face when you take the mask off, you could still be at risk.

Wash your hands! Eighty percent (80%) of all infections are spread by touch.

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We’re not scaremongering, but we’re highlighting the dangers of being tricked by a coronavirus scam into thinking you’re safe.

Ads and fake news reports making dishonest claims are spreading like wildfire.

Social Media Carriers Social media networks are alarmed at becoming carriers not of the illness but of phony claims.

In fact, Facebook has already announced a ban on ads offering a cure or preventative treatment and it looks like Google is filtering out coronavirus cure claims in online searches.

Instead, in both cases, if you search on the word “coronavirus” you’ll get useful information about the illness, not dubious claims. Facebook also includes a link to the latest information from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Amazon says it has blocked or removed more than a million products it thinks are making false claims about protection. The retailing giant has also identified and removed sellers who are price-gouging for face masks.

However, the picture is made murkier by official claims (the latest was from Vietnam) to have cured the illness, when what has really happened is that victims have been effectively nursed through the illness and emerged healthy out the other side.

In fact, that’s what really does happen for most victims worldwide. We tend to read only about the deaths. There are certainly hundreds or thousands of scientists searching

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for a cure, but that could be a long way off. After all, we don’t even have a cure for flu yet! It still kills thousands every year.

Five Steps to Avoid a Scam So, while we wait for an effective vaccine to emerge, here are five key things you should do to avoid getting sucked into a coronavirus or other pandemic scam: 1. Don’t respond to any claims about cures, safety, vaccines, or other protection without first checking with official sources, notably the CDC. See Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Summary at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/ summary.html. This CDC site is updated virtually every day and is the go-to source of reliable information.

But watch out for messages claiming to be from the CDC. Scammers are pitching them too. Just use the link above to get the real facts.

2. Watch out for other email, text, and online links about news or products relating to the disease, especially those pointing to supposed breakthroughs. Never click these links as they may lead to downloads of another virus you don’t want - computer malware.

3. Be wary about donating to charities soliciting funds to help with research or treatment. Always check them out first with sites like the Wise Giving Alliance (http://give. org), Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org), or Charity Watch (www.charitywatch.org).

This may also be an opportunity for scammers to use the well-known “relative-in-distress” or “friend-indistress” calls, which trick victims into sending money to someone posing as a friend or relative.

Or they may just turn up at your front door with a collecting box. Don’t give. Politely decline and say you choose to make your charitable donations elsewhere.

Then visit Charity Watch for a list of genuine charities accepting coronavirus donations (www.charitywatch. org/charity-donating-articles/coronavirus-outbreak).

4. Don’t believe the face mask hype. You’ve seen the videos. You’ve seen the ads. But according to the US Surgeon General, you’re wasting your time.

We’re not medical experts here at the Scambusters HQ, so we don’t give medical advice. However, Surgeon General Jerome S Adams said on Twitter at the end of February: “Seriously people - stop buying masks! They’re not effective in preventing (the) general public from catching coronavirus.”

See the TheWireCutter.com’s article, You Don’t Need a Face Mask for Coronavirus at https://thewirecutter.com/ blog/face-mask-for-coronavirus for an analysis of mask effectiveness.

If you have a mask and want to wear one, the CDC adds, go ahead. It can’t do any harm. But it likely won’t do you any good either.

5. Watch out for fake “investment opportunities.” Yes, some scammers are already claiming that the spread of the disease gives investors a chance to make easy money by putting their cash into certain dubious companies.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued an investor alert to this effect (Look Out for Coronavirus-Related Investment Scams Investor Alert at www.sec.gov/oiea/investor-alerts-and-bulletins/ ia_coronavirus) warning that fake “research reports” are circulating, making false statements and promoting so-called “penny stocks” or “micro stocks.” The crooks want you to buy so they can dump their holdings at a profit.

There’s no shortage of reliable news about coronavirus on official sites, like the CDC’s. So, look no further if you want to avoid being sucked into this or other pandemic threats.

Fake Coronavirus Dashboard Sites

There are already scores, maybe hundreds, of scam websites pretending to carry updated information on the outbreak. You can see what one of these sites looks like here: https://tinyurl.com/covid-scam-map. They look official, they have maps and statistics and, unfortunately, look almost identical to some of the genuine “dashboard” sites that have appeared in the last couple of weeks.

But their purpose is not to inform. As tech information website TheNextWeb.com (see link above) warns: “Attackers design websites related to coronavirus in order to prompt you to download an application to keep you updated on the situation. This application doesn’t need any installation and shows you a map of how COVID-19 is spreading. “However, it is a front for attackers to generate a malicious binary file and install it on your computer.

“Just to be clear, these websites pose as genuine maps for tracking coronavirus, but have a different URL or different details from the original source.” Once installed, the software steals data and infects computers with its own virus.

The advice is to use only verified sites to check data.

That’s easier said than done, especially after one of the best and leading info sites from Johns Hopkins University was hijacked recently by crooks and turned into a downloadable malware bomb.

At the same time, panic-buying of masks is creating a supply shortage for the people who really need them - medics who have to deal with a whole lot of risks in hospitals and operating theaters.

The best rule to follow is to confine your curiosity to the CDC and other official health sites. But if you must visit data dashboard sites, never, but never, download supposed maps of infections. They’re nearly all malware-laden.

The CDC says more or less the same thing. At best, the organization points out, masks can only help prevent spread of infection from someone who is already sick.

Since November 1994, Scambusters.org has helped over eleven million people protect themselves from scams.

Scambusters is committed to helping people avoid getting taken by dangerous Internet scams, frustrating spam, devious identity theft, and other cunning offline and online scams.

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E&O Risk M

and the Coronav ** Note: This has been provided by SwissRe/Westport.

Some of this content may not apply if you are not a SwissRe/Westport insured.

You are all very aware of the events of the last several weeks and the Coronavirus. We are not health experts and there are many others more qualified to give you that advice. We CAN, however, give advice regarding how to reduce the likelihood of an errors and omissions exposure as a result of this event. We have already become aware of some attorneys who are trying to take advantage of this situation for monetary gain against insurance agents.

Our advice during this event is no different from what we have said in the past. If your agency has developed good practices, you will be better positioned to avoid problems.

Here are the practices of a good insurance agency: • DON’T MAKE CLAIMS DECISIONS! Let the insurance carriers do that.

• DON’T ADVISE YOUR CUSTOMERS IF CORONAVIRUS related claims are COVERED OR NOT! Let the insurance carriers do that.

• If a carrier takes the position that losses arising from the Coronavirus are not, or may not be covered, do not engage in advocacy asserting that “We thought it was covered...” That will simply be used by your client to prove that you knew the client wanted coverage for perils like the Coronavirus, but you failed to procure coverage.

• Report all claims and potential claims to EACH AND EVERY CARRIER that could potentially have a policy that could apply. This includes CGL, Personal lines, Umbrella, Excess, Workers Compensation, Specialty and any other policy in place for your customers.

• USE THE RESOURCES PROVIDED TO YOU BY THE IIABA. View their Coronavirus webpage at www. independentagent.com/resources/Pages/coronavirus. aspx. It is a valuable resource for you, your staff and your agency that provides many sources of information.

• Be empathetic, but don’t tell anyone that something is covered or not. You can continue to tell them you feel sympathy for all affected by the Coronavirus, but customers MUST report a claim to their insurance carrier to determine if there is any coverage for the event.

• Remember, if you executed an agency agreement with one or more insurance companies, you MUST report all claims or potential claims as required by that agreement, even if your customer tells you not to do so.

• Maintain vigilant contact with your insurance carriers to determine what action THEY want you to take.

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• DOCUMENT DOCUMENT DOCUMENT!!! This continues to be the foundation of sound E&O risk management. DOCUMENT EACH AND EVERY TELEPHONE CONVERSATION, EMAIL, TEXT, TWEET, OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS! • Assume that any telephone conversation with your customers or carrier claims representatives ARE BEING RECORDED. While some states prohibit recording of telephone conversations without advising that they are doing so, IT DOESN’T STOP SOME PEOPLE FROM DOING SO. • If you use social media for your business, make sure it is up to date! Do not make any promises that something may or may not be covered by insurance companies and policies.

• DO NOT GIVE ANY STATEMENTS, RECORDED OR OTHERWISE, WITHOUT FIRST CONTACTING YOUR E&O PROVIDER. The Swiss Re Corporate Solutions/ Westport Insurance Company/First Specialty Insurance Company claims staff are available if you have any questions about any communications you receive.

• If you have a conversation with your customer that leads you to believe they may be fishing to make a claim against you, DO NOT HESITATE to contact our claims department.

• DON’T MAKE CLAIMS DECISIONS! DON’T ADVISE YOUR CUSTOMERS IF SOMETHING IS COVERED OR NOT! Let the insurance carriers do that. We know this was stated before, but it must be ingrained in your mind.

• If the Coronavirus ends up being declared a “catastrophe” by the ISO Property Claims Service, you may be eligible under your Westport policy for “Cat Extra Expense” benefits: “CATASTROPHE EXTRA EXPENSE. We will pay up to $25,000 per catastrophe subject to a per POLICY PERIOD aggregate limit of $50,000 for the actual extra expenses incurred by you as a result of a catastrophe during the POLICY PERIOD beginning on the date of a catastrophe and for thirty (30) days thereafter. The extra expense incurred must be incurred by you only to assist in the insurance claims processing needs of your customer(s) who have been affected by the catastrophe. The catastrophe must be a declared catastrophe by the Property Claims Services. A $500 deductible for each catastrophe shall apply. Limits provided by this paragraph are part of and not in addition to the limits provided by this POLICY.”

april 2020

Management

virus (COVID-19) We hope that this will help you as this event progresses. If you should have any questions, please let us know.

This article is intended to be used for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Swiss Re shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained or referenced in

april 2020

By Swiss RE Corporate Solutions

this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, accounting or professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of the Swiss Re Group (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Swiss Reâ&#x20AC;?) and/or its subsidiaries and/or management and/or shareholders.

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Utica National’s Agents’

Errors & Omissions Coverage Options How Does Your Insurance Stack Up? We offer a number of coverages specifically designed to be added to your Agents’ Errors & Omissions Policy. We recommend the coverages checked below for your specific needs.

Coverage Contingent Catastrophe Extra Expense provides the extra funds your agency needs

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to continue to service your clients after a catastrophe1 strikes. It covers expenses such as temporary claim office set-up, overtime, temporary workers, etc. Many times these expenses are not covered under Business Income/Extra Expense if your property wasn’t damaged. This is just $100 per year.

3

Cybersurance is needed in case a hacker or thief takes personally identifiable information. It covers both data and paper breach and includes Security and Privacy Breach Liability as well as Breach Notice Response Coverage. Premiums start at $506.

3 3 1

Employment Practices Liability is coverage for allegations of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, etc., from employees.

Liability to Third Parties extends Employment Practices Liability to cover allegations of discrimination and harassment from vendors, suppliers, service providers and business invitees.

Coverage trigger is a catastrophe declared by ISO’s Property Claim Service (PCS).

Contact us for more information.

This summary represents an outline of coverage available from the companies of the Utica National Insurance Group. No coverage is provided by this summary.

All coverages are individually underwritten. Coverage availability, terms and conditions are dictated by the policy and may vary by state. In the event of a loss, the terms of the policy issued will determine the coverage provided. For questions on coverages, contact your independent agent.

9-A-2564 Ed. 12-19

Go to tinyurl.com/ePayPolicy to get started!

INSIGHT | associate news Thank you to our Associate Members.

Diamond Level Members

Platinum Level

Progressive Surplus Line Association of Illinois

Gold Level AAA Insurance Arlington/Roe

Silver Level Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company Imperial PFS IMT Insurance

Nationwide West Bend Mutual Insurance Co.

Bronze Level A. J. Wayne & Associates AFCO Credit Corporation AMERISAFE AmWINS Brokerage of the Midwest, LLC Auto-Owners Insurance Co. Berkshire Hathaway Guard Insurance Companies Columbia Insurance Group Continental Western Group Donald Gaddis Company, Inc. Donegal Insurance Group Encompass Insurance Encova Insurance Erie Insurance Group Foremost Insurance Group Forreston Mutual Insurance Company Frankenmuth Insurance Grange Insurance Illinois Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund Illinois Public Risk Fund Indiana Farmers Insurance Insurance Program Managers Group J C Restoration J M Wilson Kemper Keystone Insurance Group, Inc. 30

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Liberty Mutual/Safeco Insurance Madison Mutual Insurance Company MarshBerry & Company Maximum Independent Brokerage, LLC Mercury Insurance Group MetLife Auto & Home Midwest Insurance Company miEdge PEOPLE Previsor Insurance ProAg Management Inc RT Specialty - Naperville Selective Insurance Company of America ServiceMaster DSI Society Insurance Specialty Risk of America Transcom General Agency Travelers UIG - The Agent Agency United Fire Group Universal Property & Casualty Utica National Insurance Group W. A. Schickedanz Agency, Inc./Interstate Risk Placement Western National Insurance Westfield april 2020

iia of il news | INSIGHT

Education Classes

Please Note: At press time, all May classroom education sessions are being held as scheduled. If you register for a session, and the class is rescheduled, you will be contacted. View the latest information on the IIA of IL website at www.iiaofil.org.

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13 13 14 14 14 14 15 16 28 28 29

E&O Roadmap to Personal Auto Webinar E&O Roadmap to Personal Auto & Umbrella Webinar E&O: Roadmap to Personal Auto & Umbrella Webinar E&O: Commercial Property Coverage Gaps Webinar E&O Roadmap To Homeowners Endorsements Webinar E&O/HO Endorsements/Inland Marine Webinar Agents E&O: Duties, Operations, Checklists and More Webinar E&O Roadmap To Policy Analysis Webinar E&O Risk Management Webinar Ethics and the Law Webinar Culture, Ethics, and E&O Webinar

5 6 11 11 12 12 19 19 20 20 20 21 27 28 28

CISR-Life and Health Essentials Rolling Meadows CIC-Commercial Property Rolling Meadows Pre-Licensing-Property & Casualty Springfield E&O Roadmap to Personal Auto Webinar E&O Roadmap To HO Endorsements Webinar Ethics and E&O Webinar CISR-Commercial Casualty 2 Springfield Ethical Dilemmas Webinar CISR-Agency Operations Tinley Park E&O: Commercial Liability Coverage Gaps Webinar E&O: Roadmap to Homeowners Insurance Webinar E&O Roadmap To Policy Anaylsis Webinar E&O Risk Management Webinar Agents E&O Webinar Pre-Licensing Course Life & Health Springfield

New Members member agencies Guardian Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. Homewood, IL Illinois Bankers Business Services, Inc. Springfield, IL

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iia of il news | INSIGHT

Katie School of Insurance Hosts Diversity Event

By Phil Lackman The Katie School of Insurance at Illinois State University hosted â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Power of an Inclusive Workforceâ&#x20AC;? on campus Tuesday, March 3rd. The purpose of the event, open to all students at ISU, was to showcase the myriad employment opportunities open to college graduates in the industry and the efforts of the industry to implement programs hiring and retaining individuals with diverse backgrounds.

IIA of IL was a sponsor of the event and IIA of IL Secretary/ Treasurer and IIABA Diversity Council Chair, Bennie Jones, participated on a panel of industry representatives focusing on diversity and inclusion efforts within their companies to address the demographic changes nationwide which are driving changes with insurance consumers.

Jim Jones, Director of the Katie School, opened the event and highlighted the significant economic contributions the insurance industry makes in Illinois, highlighting the IIA of IL Economic Impact Study and the multitude of employment opportunities within the industry.

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Association members Jeremy Eden, owner of Eden Insurance and Financial Services in Bloomington, Kristin Peterson, an agent with Compass Insurance Partners in Gibson City, and Jennifer Jacobs, IIA of IL Director of Human Resources, represented the association during the industry networking event for students and spoke with dozens of students about careers within the independent agency system. The Horton Group, IIA of IL member, was also a sponsor, along with Associate Members CHUBB, Pekin Insurance, Selective Insurance and Travelers.

As a 1982 ISU graduate, I was impressed by the number of students in attendance and excited for the future of the industry.

Phil Lackman is the CEO of the IIA of IL and can be reached at plackman@iiaofil.org or (217) 321-3005.

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Board of Directors Pro

Randy Jacobs, CIC Farm Agents Council Chair

Payne Insurance Agency, A Compass Insurance Partner Lexington, IL Producer Number of Years with Agency: 25 Year You Started in Insurance: 1995 Education: BS in Agricultural Economics University of Illinois @ Urbana-Champaign 1987 Current or Past Civic, Political, or Community Service Activities: Past: - Lexington Jaycees - Lexington Education Advancement Foundation - Lexington Community Center Board of Directors Present: - Smith Library Board What do you feel are major challenges facing our Association today?

The major challenges facing the Association today are getting the membership fully engaged with all the Association has to offer and making everyone aware of the broad spectrum of services the Association provides.

Also, the Association faces challenges in addressing agency perpetuation beyond M & A activity; e.g., recruiting young talent to the independent agency system, and collaboration with entities such as The Katie School of Insurance at ISU. What suggestions do you have to respond to these challenges?

The Association’s staff does an incredible job making the membership aware of all the Association has to offer – it’s up to us to take advantage of all products and services that will benefit our agencies, whether it’s education or E&O coverage and other products and services. The Association should continue to explore ways to attract young talent to the independent agency system through avenues that young people use, such as through online events and sites,

Kevin Lesch, CBC Government Relations Committee Chair Árachas Group, LLC, Elgin, IL President

Number of Years with Agency: 20 Year You Started in Insurance: 2000 Education: University of Illinois at Chicago, Hartford School of Insurance

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and continue to collaborate with colleges and universities to provide internship opportunities in the industry.

What do you see at the greatest benefit to IIA of IL membership?

Since 1995, the greatest benefit I have gotten from involvement with the IIA-IL and the Farm Agents group has been networking - getting to know fellow agents and company personnel on a personal basis. As an agent in a rural community, discussions with other agents facing similar challenges helps me remember that our agency isn’t out on an island dealing with these challenges.

Current or Past Civic, Political, or Community Service Activities: - Bartlett Chamber of Commerce – Treasurer - DuPage IIA – Treasurer - Chicagoland IIA - Board Member - Sockers Youth Foundation, LTD – President - IIA of IL - Past Region 10 Director - IL Young Agent of the Year What do you feel are major challenges facing our Association today?

Continuing to provide our members benefits to help their agencies sustain growth and market share. april 2020

rofiles

Cindy Jackman, CISR, CIC Planning & Coordination Committee Chair

Arlington/Roe, Carbondale, IL Marketing Manager for Central & Southern IL Number of Years with Agency: 2 Year You Started in Insurance: 1984 Education: John A Logan, SIU Current or Past Civic, Political, or Community Service Activities: - IIA of IL Past Chairman, President, President-Elect, Vice President, Regional Director - IIA of IL Past Young Agents Committee Member - IIA of IL Past Trusted Choice Committee Member - Board Member/Chairman, Southern Region Independent Insurance Agents IL - Board Member/Chairman, Southern IL Soccer League - Board Member, Giant City School Athletic Booster Club - Board Member, Crab Orchard Water Dist.

- Board Member, Perry/Jackson County Child Advocacy Center Awards/Accreditations: - Accredited Customer Service Representative, National Alliance for Insurance - Certified Customer Service Representative, National Alliance for Insurance - Certified Insurance Counselor, National Alliance for Insurance - Regional Director of the Year, IIA of IL - 2012 Key Award Recipient – Pekin Life Insurance - Illinois Agent of the Year – Illinois 1752 Club - Charles M Cartwright Award – IIA of IL What do you feel are major challenges facing our Association today?

Mergers & Acquisitions Keeping up with the ever changing, fast paced Technology

What suggestions do you have to respond to these challenges?

M&A: The agents sometimes don’t take the time to see what all they can gain from the resources at the Association. Using some of our services/ products may help align their agency for options other than merging/selling to a larger agency. We have improved on the delivery of our message to the agents by leaps and bounds over the last couple of years. We need to keep marching on & spread the good word. Tech: We’re developing the Tech Committee/Task Force which will help keep us at the top of our tech game and relay the newest threats/opportunities for our members.

What do you see at the greatest benefit to IIA of IL membership?

The Association’s got your back! If your agency needs legal advice - come to the Association. If you need resources for markets - come to the Assoc. If you need help finding your next employee - come to the Assoc. If you need prelicensing or CE - come to the Assoc. If you want to network with like-minded insurance people - come to the Assoc. If you need help understanding a company contract - come to the Assoc. The resources are unlimited and underused by many of our agents. The greatest benefit of IIA of IL membership is being able to call 1-800-628-6436 for answers.

What advice do you have to share with someone considering a volunteer position with the IIA of IL? Don’t think twice - just do it. The rewards far outweigh the time commitment.

What suggestions do you have to respond to these challenges?

Continue to look into tech that can have a major impact on our membership.

What do you see at the greatest benefit to IIA of IL membership?

Advocacy, Education, Professionalism What advice do you have to share with someone considering a volunteer position with the IIA of IL? If you ever have doubts about our industry or the people in our industry, you will find no greater solace then being involved and surrounding yourself with the brilliant people of the IIA who give of themselves and share their experiences to ensure our industry remains great. april 2020

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INSIGHT | industry news West Bend Reports Outstanding Results for Eighth Consecutive Year Kevin Steiner, president and CEO of West Bend Mutual Insurance Company, recently reported the company ended 2019 with another year of outstanding financial results, making it the eighth consecutive year in which the company’s performance exceeded that of the insurance industry, as well as many of its competitors.

West Bend ended the year with a combined ratio of 93.0%, and despite a very competitive marketplace and decreasing workers’ compensation rates, grew by 7.2%. Total direct written premium at the end of 2019 was $1.359 billion, bringing West Bend’s five-year compound annual growth rate to 6.6%.

West Bend Mutual Insurance was recognized with several awards in 2019, including ranking number two in the large company category of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Top Workplaces in Southeast Wisconsin, being named a Best Workplaces in Financial Services and Insurance by Fortune Magazine, being ranked fourth as a Best Place to Work in Insurance for the tenth consecutive year and for the seventh year overall for insurance providers, and receiving a Gold Workplace Health Achievement from the American Heart Association. West Bend is also included on the Ward Group’s list of the 50 top-performing property and casualty insurers domiciled in the U.S.

Nationwide Foundation Donates $5 Million to Combat COVID-19

The Nationwide Foundation has announced that it is making $5 million in contributions to local and national charities to support the coronavirus response. The foundation is a private non-profit to which Nationwide companies are donors.

“As communities experience impacts related to the pandemic, many non-profit organizations stand on the front lines, providing basic necessities, wellness services and support to those in need,” said Kirt Walker, CEO of Nationwide and chairman of the Nationwide Foundation.

“Finances, staff, programs and resources are being stretched as these non-profits not only serve their communities but feel the impact themselves. During these challenging times, we each have a responsibility, when we can, to lift those around us.”

The Nationwide Foundation has approved $1 million each in national response grants to the American Red Cross, Feeding America and the United Way. It has also approved up to $2 million in grants to be distributed in communities where Nationwide companies operate. The grants will assist the communities in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Grinnell Mutual Recognizes Agents And Mutual Companies for Outstanding Achievement Grinnell Mutual recognized a group of 53 independent agents and 14 mutual insurance companies for outstanding achievement in the insurance profession and superior performance for Grinnell Mutual in 2019 by naming them to its 2020 President’s Club.

“Grinnell Mutual and its board of directors is happy to honor our top agents and mutual managers,” said Jeff Menary, Grinnell Mutual’s president and CEO. “We always look forward to getting reacquainted with old friends and making new ones. This year’s event in the Bahamas will be exciting and memorable and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone there.”

Congratulations to the following Illinois Agencies: Central Illinois Agents Group Jacksonville Compass Insurance Partners Cissna Park Diamond Bros Insurance Paris First Insurance Group Plano Hanford Insurance Agency Geneseo Hugh F. Miller Insurance Agency Rock Falls Insurance Providers Group of Illinois Rantoul Meyer-Jochums Agency Minonk Tomco Insurance Agency Charleston Congratulations to the following Mutual Companies: Heartland Mutual Belleville, Ill. La Prairie Mutual Henry, Ill. Western Illinois Mutual Carthage, Ill.

For more information on the Nationwide Foundation, go to www.nationwide.com/about-us/nationwide-foundation.jsp.

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people in the news | INSIGHT

In Memoriam

Ronald Joseph “R.J.” Pohl, 74, of Urbana passed away March 5, 2020 at home.

Kenneth Eugene “Ken” Wagler, 79, of Peoria passed on Thursday, March 5, 2020, at Apostolic Christian Skylines in Peoria. He was formerly of Washington.

R.J. was born Nov. 15, 1945, in Highland, son of Joseph and Kathryn (Shelby) Pohl. He married Sharon Wallace on Aug. 1, 1970, in Marine. She survives.

Born May 27, 1940, in Peoria to Cletus E. and Dolores M. (Marchand) Wagler, he married Michele (Bishop) Paylor in Peoria. They later divorced. He then married Peggy L. Pieper on February 2, 1980, in Washington. She survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Sean Pohl of Dallas and Jason Pohl (Yardley) of San Francisco; and a daughter, Kendra Iffland (David) of Savoy. Five grandchildren also survive, Hazel and Everly Iffland and Selah Pohl, Tyler Pohl and Mason Pohl.

Also surviving are one daughter, Teresa (William) Blackburn of Liberty Township, Ohio; one son, Brian (Candice) Wagler of Warrensburg, Missouri; eight grandchildren, Dalton and Dane Wagler, Taylor and Private William Kenneth Blackburn, Jessica M. Crook and Olivia, Allyson and Connor Morrissey; and one niece, Joy (Dave) French of Pekin.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two stepdaughters, Lori Michelle Crook on December 3, 2018, and Lisa Renee Morrissey on October 28, 2016; and one sister, Phyllis Appell.

Ken graduated from Peoria Central High School in 1958.

He later graduated from Wentworth Military Junior College with an associate’s degree in business and finished college at Bradley University.

He was a third-generation owner of Wagler Insurance Agency in Peoria, starting his career in 1960. He served as president for the Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois in 2002 and later served on the Board of Directors.

Ken was a former member and past president of the Northside Optimists Club of Peoria. He was also the public announcer for the Peoria Blades Hockey Team for many years.

A loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather, Ken was a caring person that had a sensitive side and offered wisdom and encouragement to everyone he came in contact with. He enjoyed his annual fishing trips to Canada, golfing, telling stories and being a jokester.

Ken was a very artistic person who enjoyed painting. He loved participating as Frosty the Snowman in the Peoria Santa Claus Parade and visiting area schools during the holidays.

The IIA of IL staff and Board of Directors are saddened by the loss of Ken and offer condolences to his family and friends.

R.J. served in the U.S. Army as a staff sergeant and then worked as an independent insurance agent for over 30 years, finishing his career as the owner of Ring-Wil & Associates in Belleville. He was a strong supporter of the insurance industry and education for its agents. He was very active in the Illinois Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA), serving as President from 19901991 and helped facilitate the merger of the PIA with the Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois.

The IIA of IL staff and Board of Directors send their deepest condolences to the family and friends of R.J. Pohl.

Thomas K. Sprague, Jr., age 95, passed away December 13, 2019, surrounded by family. He was born March 22, 1924, in Joliet, IL to Martha (Streitz) and Thomas K. Sprague, Sr. Tom is survived by his adoring wife, JoAnn (nee Fehrenbacher), married in 1950. Tom and JoAnn celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary on October 14, 2019.

They made their home in Joliet where they raised their three children, Thomas K. III (Mary “Mimi” Minarich), Carlene (Charles) Kinzie and John; his children and six grandchildren were an immense source of pride; Jonathan Sprague, Griffin (Alexandra Michel) Kinzie, Trevor Kinzie, Spencer Kinzie, Charles Sprague and Elizabeth Sprague.

Tom enjoyed frequent Sprague and Fehrenbacher family reunions with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Tom graduated from Joliet Township High School in 1943 where he was a member of the ROTC, preparing him to enter the Army. Tom was proud of his military services. He was stationed in Cherbourg, France during WWII in 1944, returning after V-E Day to the Illinois Army National Guard 44th Division and later served during the Korean War as a 1st Lieutenant, Infantry, until his honorable discharge in 1953.

Tom was mentored by his aunt, Mable Sprague Kase, in the insurance business after returning from WWII. He built his insurance business for over 40 years and was dedicated to serving his clients in the Will County area. He was an active member and past president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois. He was awarded the C.M. Cartwright Merit Award for his excellence in the insurance industry.

The staff and Board of Directors of the IIA of IL are saddened by the news of Tom’s passing and send their deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

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INSIGHT | classifieds for the insurance professional by the insurance professional

PERSONAL LINES CSR - PART TIME.

AGENCY WANTED.

Email resume to: bill.ntovas@caroinsurance.com

Visit www.ciagonline.com for contact information.

28. Caro Insurance Services, Orland Park, IL is seeking a qualified Personal Lines CSR. The position requires an individual to have insurance - Personal Lines - experience, quoting, processing endorsements, excellent customer service and communication skills. Illinois P&C License is desired. Part-time, approximately 15-20 hours per week; salary $18-21 per hour.

AGENCY/AGENTS/PRODUCERS WANTED.

02. Forest Park/Oak Park agency for over 60 years, will meet your needs by providing space, markets, marketing & sales support, automation, merging with or purchasing your agency. Perpetuation/ Succession Plans, BuySell Agreements also available. We have experienced, educated and dedicated staff for you and your clients.

Have access to our numerous companies, office services and many other resources. Retain ownership in your book with contingency. Please look closely at us- we are an agency you want to do business with! Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done it before, we know how- we make it easy! Visit our website at forestagency.com/agents.html, or call for a confidential discussion and a list of Agency benefits.

Dan Browne will provide an agency evaluation/appraisal at little cost to you. Please call:

20. Since 2004, Central Illinois Agents Group LLC has been providing independent agents with a variety of markets with contingency opportunities. Agents have availability to several markets that they may not be able to sustain or maintain on their own. We have markets for personal, commercial, agricultural and crop insurance lines. Let us help you get to the next level.

OPPORTUNITIES/SPACE AVAILABLE/RETAIN OWNERSHIP

13. We are a 100 year old Northbrook agency looking to discuss any mutually beneficial opportunity. Our producers, mergers, clusters and agency purchases receive 50% commissions on new and renewal business without any expenses. We can provide: office space, phones, agency management system, service renewals and changes. The companies we represent are: Badger Mutual, Employers Mutual, General Casualty, Guide One, Hartford, Kemper, Progressive, Rockford Mutual, Safeco, State Auto, Travelers and Met Life. Contact:

Nancy Solomon Martini, Miller & Schloss, Inc. (847) 291-1313 Ron@martini-miller.com

Dan Browne or Cathy Hall Forest Insurance (708) 383-9000 www.forestinsured.com/mergers-acquisitions

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supports its agency partners in their industry endeavors. We encourage and help facilitate intellectual capital sharing among partners. One way we do this is with an agency-led group called Emerging Leaders. Their focus is progressive, innovative solutions in technology, perpetuation, and sales management. We pride ourselves on building a platform that will sustain independent insurance agencies over the long haul.

Because independence works better together.

Contact Matthew Fink: 570.473.4643 | mfink@keystoneinsgrp.com keystoneinsgrp.com april 2020

ÂŽ

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Expect big things in workers’ compensation. Most classes approved, nationwide. It pays to get a quote from Applied.® For information call (877) 234-4450 or visit auw.com. Follow us at bigdoghq.com.

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