THE TENNESSEE INSUROR July/August 2022 Volume 33 | Number 4 4 14 129thInsurorsAnnualConvention 17 Welcome New Members of the Insurors of toConferenceAgencyTennesseeGrowth-BackInPersonFormat 129th Annual Convention See you in Nashville... October 15-18, 2022
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INSURORS OF TENNESSEE 2500 21st Avenue South, Suite 200 Nashville, TN www.insurors.org37212-0539 THE TENNESSEE INSUROR Phone 615.385.1898 Toll Free: 1.800.264.1898 Email:Publisher:marketing@insurors.orgEditor:RonTravisMarketWise,Inc INSURORS OFFICERS President ......................................................... Norfleet Anthony III IIABA National Director .............................. Cindi Gresham, CIC VP Region I ................................................................... Bobby Sain VP Region II, President-elect ............ Matt Swallows, CIC, CRM VP Region III ................................... Kym Clevenger, CPCU, CACW Treasurer .................................................... John McInturff III, ARM Secretary ........................................................ Richard Whitley, CIC Director, Region I ...................................... Eric Collison, CIC, CRM Director, Region I ................................ Jamie Williams, CIC, ARM Director, Region I ............................................................. Cy Young Director, Region II .................................................... Reno Benson Director, Region II ........................................................... Chip Piper Director, Region II ...................................... Paul Steele, CIC, CRM Director, Region III .................................................... Tim Goss, CIC Director, Region III .......................................... Bill Oldham III, CIC Director, Region III ........ Cindy Widener Winn, CPA, CIC, CBIA Director, Young Agents ................................. Matt Felgendreher Immediate Past President ...................................... Bob McIntire ADVERTISING Display advertising rates, deadlines and specifi cations may be obtained by writing to Insurors of Tennessee, 2500 21st Avenue South, Suite 200, Nashville, TN 37212, calling 615.385.1898, e-mailing marketing@insurors.org or online at www.insurors.org The Tennessee Insuror is provided to all Insurors of Tennessee members and associate members as a member service. contents 3The Tennessee Insuror 11 Annual Convention Schedule of Events, October 15 & 16 13 Annual Convention Schedule of Events, October 17 & 18 14 Welcome New Members of the Insurors of Tennessee 17 Agency Growth Conference - Back to In Person Format 18 Griffin Agency - Kingston, TN departments 21 From Your President Mid-Year Review and a Look Forward 2022 23 From Your IIABA National Director Big "I" Fall Leadership Conference 2022 25 From Your CEO Insurors of Tennessee is One of the Largest “Big I” Member Associations in the Nation 26 Tennessee Young Agents '22 Future Leaders Spotlight - Kelly McCormack Young Agents Update 28 Partners for Tennessee - Thank you for your support! 31 Government & Legal Update Recent Regulatory Changes to Medicare, Annuity Sales 35 Association Update 39 Company Briefs 46 Agents Serving Our Community 48 Education Calendar 50 Meetings - Mark Your Calendars 53 Your Big "I" Employee Stress at All-Time High, Says Gallup 54 Directory of Advertisers 4 Insurors 129th Annual Convention: See you in Nashville... October 15-18, 2022 Vol. XXXIII, Number 4 July/August 2022
4 The Tennessee Insuror
For those members arriving on Saturday, October 15, 2022, we will be offering a football watch party from 6:00PM to 8:00PM to enjoy an evening of college football together as
10.15.2022 • Football Watch Party • Kick-off the Conven tion Featuring College Football on the Big Screen
The History of Success Continues The Insurors of Tennessee InsureFest 2022 annual meeting and conference is rapidly approaching on October 15 -18, 2022. This year the conference is being held in Nashville, at the J.W. Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in the heart of Nashville’s convention and visitor’s district. At this year’s con vention there is something for everyone to experience and enjoy in this dynamic city. We will present more on that topic a bit later in this article. This year marks the 129th annual convention for the Insurors of Tennessee. Let us pause to reflect on that significant mile stone for just a moment. This association has navigated all manner of challenges since that first convention in 1893 on the strength of its leadership, the prudent guidance of suc cessive boards and the active engagement of its members. The association has and continues to be resilient. Have you ever thought about what was happening in 1893 when the very first Insurors of Tennessee convention was held? In 1893 Grover Cleveland was sworn in as the 24th President of the United States to his second term as President. Cleve land is the only President in American history to serve nonconsecutive terms with the first being from 1885 to 1889 and then again from 1893 to 1897. His second term would be filled with significant challenges. Unfortunately, in 1893 the New York Stock Exchange crashed because of a financial panic in overseas markets that caused foreign investors to sell off investments in America.
The Panic of 1893 precipitated a depression that did not re lent until 1897 and is recognized by economists as one of the worst economic downturns in American history. During this time 15,000 businesses went bankrupt, six hundred banks failed, and 74 railroads closed. Clearly, the downturn had to present strong headwinds for the insurance industry as well. So, as the first convention of what would become the Insurors of Tennessee today convened in 1893, turbulent times were ahead for the founders of our association. Nevertheless, they persisted and navigated uncertain times with determination and common purpose to build and sustain a strong insurance industry in Tennessee. As we look forward, we must always remember and celebrate those who have contributed to the continuity and success of this association through time. Now, back to 2022! InsureFest this year is going to be an ex ceptional event for members and guests! For those of you who have not had the opportunity to experience the J.W. Marriott in Nashville, it is a beautiful location for our annu al conference this year. In addition, we will be hosting oth er events you will not want to miss at great locations in the Nashville area. Here are a few highlights for the upcoming In sureFest event.
Insurors 129th Annual Convention:
On Sunday, registration for all attendees opens and the first general session starts. The trade show opens at 1:00PM and continues into Day Two. Please be sure to stop by and visit the companies and vendors who are an important part of this as sociation and play a key role in the success of many Tennes see agencies.
See
5The Tennessee Insuror the season starts. Be sure to wear your school colors to show your support! See the agenda for details. 10.16.2022 • Day One • Opening Day • Registration • Trade Show Opens • Keynote Speaker • Top Golf
you in Nashville...
Ginny Pierson, CPCU, ARM, AU Assistant Vice President of Marketing with Big “I” YA Top Golf
This year the keynote speaker will be Ginny Pierson, CPCU, ARM, AU. Ginny is Assistant Vice President of Marketing with Big “I” at the national of fice in Alexandria, Virginia. She works with Big "I" state associations across the coun try to assist with their efforts to promote programs avail able to their membership through the national office. Ginny joined the association in 2006 after a career on the carrier side in management, mar keting and field underwriting. A native of Chicago, Ginny is a graduate of Western Illinois University. Ginny will be speaking about the wealth of resources the Big I national office makes available to Insurors of Tennessee members. Ginny’s presen tation can help your agency further capitalize on the benefits of your membership in the Insurors of Tennessee.
In addition, there are a number of other events scheduled throughout the day including a Women in Insurance (WINS) session and a session for Young Agents. The day ends with a fun evening at Top Golf in Nashville. Please see the agenda for details.
Photo courtesy of Nashville Gun Club
Photo courtesy of Tennessee Grasslands Golf & Country Club
6 The Tennessee Insuror 10.17.2022 • Day Two • Trade Show • Clay Shoot • Golf Tournament • CE/Spouses/Guest Event
Photo courtesy of Nashville Gun Club
Nashville Gun Club – Nashville, TN The Nashville Gun Club (NGC) is the largest shotgun sports venue in the state. The Club was formed in 1876 and has been located at several sites, including the Belle Meade Plantation and the Nashville Airport, and now its current home on the banks of the Cumberland River in West Nashville. The club offers skeet, trap, five stand and international bunker fields along with three sporting clay courses with 50 stations in total. The NGC hosts several skeet, trap, and sporting clays state championships as well as many other regional compe titions and corporate outings. The Nashville Gun Club is also 100% handicap accessible.
Tennessee Grasslands Golf & Country Club – Gallatin, TN Tennessee Grasslands Golf & Country Club offers two cham pionship quality golf courses along the rolling hills and shoreline of Old Hickory Lake. The club’s marketing tagline is “where the shoreline meets the fairway” and accurately describes the two courses. Both courses were designed by Bill Bergin, noted for his skill and desire to improve the game of golf with each course he designs. Bergin has numerous course designs throughout the country, including redesign collaborations. Bergin’s classic, hand-crafted portfolio of work continues to add to the legacy of the game. The two courses are shining stars on his already impressive resume.
The second day of InsurFest is an action-packed day for mem bers to enjoy where members can choose to Clay Shoot at the Nashville Gun Club, play golf at the Tennessee Grasslands championship quality golf courses in Gallatin or attend Con tinuing Education courses at the new Tennessee State Muse um. A guided tour of the new museum for spouses, guests and others will also be offered. Don’t miss the opportunity to take a walk through the rich history of Tennessee sponsored by Martin & Zerfoss and Chubb insurance company.
Photo courtesy of Tennessee Grasslands Golf & Country Club
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From 8:00AM to 10:00AM breakfast will be offered and the annual business meeting will be conducted to review impor tant business matters, present the new class of officers and the new President of the Insurors of Tennessee for 2023. The official business meeting will conclude at 10:00AM.
Photo courtesy of Tennessee
Photo courtesy of Tennessee
8 The Tennessee Insuror
The new Tennessee State Museum that sits on the corner of Rosa L. Parks Blvd. and Jefferson Street at Bicentennial Cap itol Mall State Park can trace its roots back to a museum opened on the Nashville public square in 1817 by a portrait artist, Ralph E.W. Earl. A young boy who visited that muse um in 1823 wrote home that he had seen a life-size painting of then General Andrew Jackson. That same painting is now part of the Tennessee State Museum collection. In 1937 the Tennessee General Assembly created a state mu seum to consolidate World War I mementoes and other col lections from the state, the Tennessee Historical Society and other groups. This museum was located in the lower level of the War Memorial Building until it was moved into the new James K. Polk Center in 1981. It remained there for more than 35 years until, in 2015, Governor Bill Haslam proposed a new home for the museum on the northwest corner of the Bi centennial Mall in Nashville. The Tennessee General Assem bly appropriated $120 million to build the Museum, with the additional funding to complete the project to be raised in private contributions. The new Tennessee State Museum, encompassing 137,000 sq. ft. of administration and gallery space, opened to the public on October 4, 2018. It is a mu seum that all Tennesseans can be proud of and pays worthy tribute to the great history of this state founded in 1796. 10.18.2022 – Day Three – Association Day Breakfast & Business Meeting
The Tennessee State Museum – Nashville, TN
To learn more about the details of InsureFest 2022, please see the agenda which follows this article on pages 11 and 13 or visit the Insurors of Tennessee website at https://www.insur Ifors.org/annual-convention/.youhavenotyetregistered for the convention, please do so as soon as possible as we complete plans for the event. We are excited about this year’s conference and look forward to seeing you all in Nashville from October 15 – 18. u State Museum State Museum
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11The Tennessee Insuror 129th Annual Convention Schedule of Events 2022 JM Wilson TNInsur OUTLINES.indd 1 12/6/21 2:37 PM All times Central • Meeting rooms in italics Saturday, October 15th 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Football Watching Party Belle Meade 1 & 2 Join us for a welcoming night of football and fellowship as we kickoff our Annual Convention! Wear your schools colors to show your support! Sunday, October 16th 8:30 am - 11:00 am Board of Directors Meeting Bristol 11:00 am - 5:00 pm Registration Open Griffin Ballroom Hallway 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Past Presidents Luncheon by invitation only Brentwood 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Partner Recognition Lunch by invitation only Arlington 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Trade Show Day 1 Griffin Ballroom 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Agent General Session Belle Meade 1 & 2 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm WINS: Women in Insurance Networking Session Emory 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Young Agents Networking Session Arlington 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Opening Night Party at TopGolf with Dinner Transportation provided
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13The Tennessee Insuror We’re right here to do more. To help support both your physical and mental health while giving back to our communities is to go beyond what is expected from a health insurance company. And that’s exactly why we do it. © 2022 BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association BCBS004258_L2rr_2021BrandPrint_Mom&2Kids_TnInsurorMag_7.5x4.875.indd 1 2/2/22 12:00 PM 129th Annual Convention Schedule of Events All times Central • Meeting rooms in italics
Monday, October 17th 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Trade Show Day 2 breakfast provided Griffin Ballroom 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm Afternoon Activities: activities require an additional fee
6:00 pm Company Night dinner on your own Tuesday, October 18th 8:00 am - 10:00 am Association Day Breakfast & Business Meeting Griffin Ballroom 10:00 am - 10:30 am 2023 Board of Directors Portraits by invitation only 10:30 am Convention Concludes The agenda also be found at the Insurors of Tennessee website at https://www.insurors.org/annual-convention/.
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm Clay Shoot* at Nashville Gun Club lunch provided onsite 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Golf Tournament* at Tennessee Grasslands Foxland Course lunch provided onsite 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm CE & Spouses/Guests Event* and Museum Tour at the Tennessee State Museum presented by Martin & Zerfoss and Chubb lunch provided onsite
may
*All
14 The Tennessee Insuror Hargis Family Agency, PLLC 1315hargisfamilyagency.comCentralCourt,Hermitage, TN 37076 866.659.4046 Veracity Insurance Group LLC 4220veracityinsgroup.comKingsCt,Nashville, TN 37218 469.592.0620 Anthony Lancaster Insurance, Inc. 6099alancaster.comMtMoriah Rd, Suite 43, Memphis, TN 38115 901.754.3331 Normandy Insurance Company 800normandyins.comFairwayDrive, Suite 160, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441 305.335.6292 ProCare Property Restoration, an ATI Company atirestoration.com 431 Harding Industrial Drive, Nashville, TN 37211 615.833.2273 Maverick Warranties and Insurance 11101maverickbuilders.comRooseveltBlvdN, St. Petersburg, FL 33716 615.495.9267 Chandler Insurance Agency 1901progressiveagent.comNLocustAveLawrenceburg TN 38464 (931) 629-0479 Branch Insurance Exchange Pbranch.comOBox51412, Bowling Green, KY 42102 833.427.2624 CK Specialty Insurance Associates, Inc. 13504ckspecialty.comNE84thSt., Ste. 103-227 Vancouver WA 986821 866.444.7714 Ext. 1567 Triton Insurance Group 231tritonagency.comPublicSquare, Ste 300, Franklin, TN 37065 615.234.0157 Marble City Insurance 6001marblecityinsurance.comBaumDr,Suite100,Knoxville, TN 37919 865.722.7431 Podium 1650podium.comDigitalDrive, Lehi, UT zach.williams@podium.com84043 Boxwood Insurance Group 3020boxwoodins.comStansberryLn, Suite 202, Franklin, TN 37069 615.245.5851 "The South" Insurance Agenc y 4691thesouthinsurance.comEaglevillePike,Chapel Hill, TN 37034 615.505.1007 Sammons Company, L.P. 555 Perkins Ext, Ste 410, Memphis, TN 38117 901.525.2000 The Crain Group 8207thecraingroup.comChapmanHwy, Knoxville, TN 37920 865.851.7736 Midwest Insurance Company Springfield,midins.com IL 62791 865.312.2633 Oak Tree Brokerage 106oaktreeus.comMissionCt, Suite 701, Franklin, TN 37067 800.842.9124 Trail Insurance Group 142trailinsurancegroup.comPublicSq,SteE-101,Lebanon, TN 37087 615.549.6327 Insight Insurance Services 3224look2insight.comDarkWoods Drive, Franklin, TN 37064 615.636.1105 u
New Members of the Insurors of Tennessee We are pleased to welcome the new members who have joined the Insurors of Tennessee so far this year. We are on pace to have a very healthy year relative to new member development in 2022. We appreciate your membership and look forward to seeing you at upcoming events. We also encourage our members to reach out to the new members and welcome them to our association. If you know of any agencies who are not yet members, we encourage you to refer them to Kyra Garrison at kgarrison@insurors.org.
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Agency toConferenceGrowth-BackInPersonFormat
17
Socialization and Engagement
New Programming Hosted at the Hilton in the Green Hills district of Nashville, the Agency Growth Conference offered some new programming that attendees were able to soak in over the 2-day event. Af ter an association update from the Insurors staff, Joseph Cox from Trusted Choice stepped in with a thorough presentation explaining to members about the many marketing tools and resources at their fingertips within the Trusted Choice pro gram. Resources include: flyers, social media graphics, com mercials that can feature your agency’s’ logo and much more!
Attendees were treated to a number of social opportunities at the Agency Growth Conference. Following the trade show session, a reception sponsored by BBSi was hosted in the pri vate Iroquois Room where attendees and guests could un wind with a beverage and hors d’oeuvres. Following the re ception was a dinner for all attendees where they could get together and share their biggest takeaways from the first day of the conference. Some of the attendees finished the eve ning on the rooftop of the Hilton overlooking the beautiful scenery of Green Hills with the downtown Nashville skyline in the distance. The next morning, a networking breakfast allowed conference attendees to fuel up for another day of speakers before departing.
After a brief switch to an online format due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Insurors of Tennessee was able to bring back the Agency Growth Conference for an in person restart in July. Many agency members and company representatives were on hand to gather and share great insight into how the indus try has been doing after the first half of the year.
The following morning saw more informative speakers de liver key information for members. Marketing and Customer Experience expert, Brittany Hodak, provided attendees with her keynote ‘Creating Superfans’ presentation that featured case studies, personal stories, and even live surveying with the audience to guide attendees into new methods of mar keting and customer experience for their clients. Brittany also provided a digital ‘superfans playbook’ for attendees to take with them to utilize for their agency. Concluding the round of speakers was Richard Littlehale from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Richard took a deep dive on cybersecurity risks and findings from the past year that included some stagger ing facts and figures that agents were glad to be shown.
Insurors of Tennessee extends a very sincere ‘thank you’ to the agents, company representatives, guest speakers, hotel management and staff for participating in such a great event. Be on the lookout for future dates for the Agency Growth Conference in 2023. u
Between all of the informative speaker sessions, the Agency Growth Conference also featured a trade show session where many familiar and some new companies and vendors were able to get themselves in front of the attendees.
Trade Show
Gary Smith, who was an Agency Representative for Allstate Insurance Company in the 1970s and early 1980s, suggested he open his own agency. Johnny was not so sure about the idea at first. Gary convinced him he could do it, and that he would be successful if he followed Gary’s proven plan. John ny met with Gary and his regional manager who took a flight from out of town to meet at the Cracker Barrel in Harriman, Tennessee. As a side note, many may remember the Harriman Cracker Barrel was one of the very first Cracker Barrel’s out side of Lebanon, Tennessee when Cracker Barrels were not so omnipresent. On Gary Smith’s strong recommendation, the Allstate manager agreed to offer Johnny an Allstate Insur ance agency contract on the spot. To this day, Johnny says, “This was the moment that created all the opportunity that followed and enabled him to grow and develop an agency that has prospered for more than forty years.” To this day, he is grateful to Gary Smith for believing in him and having faith he could be successful.
Johnny has been an active member of the Insurors of Ten nessee since 1978. He is proud to share that he has only missed three Insurors of Tennessee conventions since join ing the association. Johnny places great value on the re sources the association provides to his agency and speaks warmly of the relationships he has developed over the years with his colleagues in the industry from Bristol to Memphis. He explains, “Many times I have been able to pick up the phone to talk with one of my colleagues from across the state to get input or to seek guidance about how to handle or address a specific issue.” The value of those relationships cannot be underestimated.
Griffin Insurance Agency is a locally owned and managed in dependent insurance agency based in Kingston, Tennessee just west of Knoxville where the mountains meet the conflu ence of three rivers that form Watts Bar Lake. Kingston is the county seat for Roane County and one of the oldest towns in Tennessee formed in 1799. In an interesting bit of history, Kingston was the capital of Tennessee for one day on Sep tember 21, 1807. The agency was established in this historic town in May of 1980 by Johnny and Juanita Griffin. Prior to founding the agency, Johnny Griffin worked in the textile industry managing a plant in his home state of Alabama. It was the textile industry that brought him to Morgan County, Tennessee to run a shirt making plant. By the late 1970’s the textile industry was largely being offshored to the Caribbean and to Asia which led to end of Johnny’s job in Morgan County. Johnny was contemplating what was next when a friend con vinced him to go take a test and interview for a job in the life and health insurance business. Johnny did well on the test and the interview and was offered a job. He worked for that company for a short time when a local independent insur ance agency in Harriman offered him a position.
Finally, Johnny wishes to express his gratitude to the mem bers of his staff who have helped build The Griffin Insurance Agency from an 800 square foot office with a few desks and a handful of clients into a successful diversified agency serv ing the people of Roane County Tennessee and beyond. u Johnny and Juanita Griffin
18 The Tennessee Insuror
For much of his career he states, “I looked up to the Board Members, the Officers and the staff of the association in that they were so knowledgeable and successful.” They were great mentors and role models for me throughout my career and continue to be now.
Today, the Griffin Agency represents several notable insur ance carriers including Allstate, Auto-owners, Builders Mu tual, Celina, Hanover, Progressive, Travelers, Safeco and others. The agency employs eight insurance professionals who have been with the agency for many years. Most all the agency staff hold a CISR or CIC professional designation and all are licensed. From the beginning, Johnny built the agency on the strength of knowledge developed through professional insurance education. Johnny recalls, “The in surance education courses offered through the Insurors of Tennessee taught by Chuck Bidek and John Eubank were key to our early success.” Johnny continues to place an em phasis on continued education and development today. Now, since his grandson Christopher Merryman has joined the agency, Johnny knows those educational opportunities will be of great importance to his success going forward.
For Johnny, the Insurors of Tennessee community and the relationships built over the past forty years are of great sig nificance. In 2008, Johnny Griffin won the coveted Insuror of the Year award and in 2020 he received the Chuck Bidek Political Action Award for his consistent contributions to the advocacy program of the association. He takes great pride in receiving both awards because of how much the associa tion means to him and the respect he has for his colleagues. He specifically mentioned how much Chuck Bidek gave to the association through the years and takes special pride in receiving that specific award.
The Griffin Agency – Built on Good Will, Gratitude and Persistence
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20 The Tennessee Insuror www.PennNationalInsurance.com We answer to main street, not Wall Street. As a mutual company, we are owned by our policyholders. We focus our time, attention, and resources on delivering superior financial strength and stability, a comprehensive product portfolio, and most of all, on doing what’s right for policyholders. To us, policyholders are much more than insurance consumers. And because of that, all of our business decisions are made with a policyholder-first focus. For more information about our products, please contact one of our territory managers at 615-889-2740. Brent Potts ext 7514 Jane Kinard ext 7518 Andy Wilder ext 7545
Young Agent President, Matt Felgendreher along with the staff
The Insurors of Tennessee InsureFest An nual Conference is rapidly approaching on October 15-18 to be held in Nash ville at the beautiful J.W. Marriott Ho tel and Conference Center. We have an exceptional event planned for this year featuring great educational opportu nities, guest speakers who will provide you with information you can leverage in your agencies, opportunities to meet with vendors and enjoyable recreation options for attendees. Please register at your earliest convenience and make plans now to attend. I look forward to seeing you in Nashville! So, as most of you know 2022 is a midterm election year across the nation in Tennessee. We have already passed the primary season and are now moving to wards the general election in November.
I2022hopeallof you enjoyed your summer vacations and had a chance to relax and unwind with your family and friends. Most everyone I know who works in our business, puts a substantial amount of effort into their agencies in service of their clients. The same holds true for the folks who work for our insurance compa ny partners and other vendors. From a personal and professional development perspective, it is always good to take time to refresh, reflect and renew your self to be at your best for your families and your clients.
Mid-Year Review and a Look Forward
It is difficult to believe I am past the half way point of my tenure as President of this association. While we have accom plished much so far this year, we have more to do as we approach the home stretch of 2022. We continue to grow the membership of the association, engage more members of our industry to par ticipate as partners, and build out our staff of professionals to propel our asso ciation forward. The most important as pect of our success is the continued ac tive participation of our members. I want to thank everyone who participated in the Agency Growth Conference held in Nashville on July 9 -10, 2022 to benefit young agents or those who are new to our industry. We continue to place a major emphasis on supporting new agents and offering them opportunities to build and devel op their careers.
From Your President
In addition to the critical legislative ad vocacy efforts in Tennessee each year where we are on both offense and de fense to protect the interests of our in dustry, InsurPACTN plays an equally im portant role every two years. InsurPACTN helps to provide campaign support to carefully vetted and qualified state and local candidates who are open to hearing our position on a myriad of is sues that can come up in any given leg islative session in Nashville. In addition, there are cases where we need to advo cate for the development and support of a legislative bill to address specific issues relative to our industry. It is more than helpful to have legislators serving who are at least open to hearing our issues and who may be willing to draft, support or sponsor specific bills to solve issues that can arise from an ever-changing in surance and business landscape. If you have not already done so, we ask that you make a contribution to Insur PACTN by visiting the Insurors of Tennes see website and access the InsurPACTN form to make your contribution. The link to the page is portto-insurpactn/www.insurors.org/donate-whereyoucanhelpsupoureffortsthiscampaignseason.
u Scan here to donate InsurPACTNto
Norfleet Anthony, III presented by at Insurors of Tennessee, have been do ing an exceptional job this year creating events and educational sessions to build the future of this industry and our associ ation in Tennessee. This September, the Young Agents will offer another round of Young Agent gatherings across the state. I encourage you to see the Young Agent event schedule in this magazine (page 27) and on the Insurors of Tennes see website to make plans to participate. If you’re an agency principal, please en courage your Young Agents to register for these events.
22 The Tennessee Insuror Connect Communicate Agency App ClientWebsitPortaleMarketing Automation Drip MassContentCampaignsLibraryTextMessaging AMS + CRM Clients, Policies, Claims FinancialDataSaleManagementsAnalytics Allies IndustryIntegrationsPartnersDownloads More than just so ware, Partner is who we are Platform Platform Partner Partner t Partne P r Contact the Partner Team, sales@sisware.com or call 614.334.9698 Endorsed by Insurors of Tennessee AMS & CRM provider to leading Tennessee agencies Grow your agency and support your client relationships in a single unified system More than just so ware, Partner is who we are Platform Partner t Partne P r “The Partner Platform and the team that supports the program are high quality. They made the transition to Partner easy, provided a great conversion and training experience and the system has everything we wanted in a modern agency management system. For any agency looking for an intuitive system with plenty of capabilities that are simple to use, I’d recommend they give the Partner Platform a look.” -Bob McIntire, President McIntire & Associates Insurance, Former President of Insurors of Tennessee
The agenda is full and you will come away with tips to help you build a suc cessful business.
End the conference by attending one of the open Board of Directors Sessions. Learn about the inner working of your National Association, how they oper ate and how the National Director rep resents our membership and the great State of Tennessee.
From Your IIABA National Director
Big "I" Fall Leadership Conference 2022
Association leaders, education directors and young agent liaisons will have expe rience, discussions and content to help your volunteer organization THRIVE!
Cindi Gresham, CIC
Presented by the Education Convoca tion, this track is designed for Big “I” State Association staff to help them support their mission to provide topnotch education content to Indepen dent Agencies. The agenda is three full days of sessions and several members of our Insurors of Tennessee/Big “I” TN will be attending to learn to better serve our Youngmembers.Agents and any Insurance profes sional who wants to get laser-focused on leading with intention and growing their business are welcome to attend the Young Agent Leadership Institute. Lance Allred will help you hit any goal with the 5 principals of perseverance with his presentation, Lions and Lead ers: The Principals of Perseverance. Peter MacDonald, Co-founder & CEO of Wun derwrite will win you over with Winning Automations, a talk on marketing auto mation and hear from agents making As is the tradition of the Big I, both na tionally and on the state level, confer ences are planned to educate, motivate and rejuvenate all independent agents.
This year, Big I’s Leadership Conference, Education Convocation, Young Agent Leadership Institute and Fall Board meeting will be on September 13-17, 2022, at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino and the Niagara Falls Conven tion Center, in Niagara, NY. As is cus tomary, the Fall meeting is held in the home state of the incoming Big I Chair. This year, John Costello will be sworn in at this meeting. No matter where you are in your insur ance journey the Big “I” has your back. Come and share your ideas with experts and peers to help you market smarter, crave a rewarding future and build last ing relationships with peers and Indus try leaders. At this Conference you are invited to connect with a community of Independent Agents, to feel inspired and empowered in your business, to learn strategies, to cultivate future tal ent and create a pathway to perpetua tion for your agency. What’s more, State perpetuation and ownership moves.
Take time out of your busy schedule to see the powerful and beautiful Niagara Falls along with the sites of upstate New Can’tYork. make the 2022 Fall Leadership Conference and Board Meeting? Mark your calendar for September 9-10, 2023 when the Big "I" Fall Leadership Con ference will be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. u
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24 The Tennessee Insuror THE BEST REMEDY FOR WORKERS’ COMPENSATION WEST BEND
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With the Annual Tennessee Convention rapidly approaching on October 15-18, we encourage you to register at your earliest opportunity via the website at www.insurors.org or by using the QR code found below. We have an exceptional event planned at the beautiful J.W. Marriott hotel locat ed across from the Music City Center and just a few blocks away from Nashville's music and entertainment district. The feature story in this edition of the maga zine gives you a great preview of what to expect. We look forward to seeing you all in Nashville this Fall! u is One of the Largest in the Nation here to register for the 129thConventionAnnual
“Big I” Member Associations
The conference highlighted the signif icant talent and capabilities of Big “I” state executives from across the nation, the exceptional quality of our associa tion staff, and the forward-looking lead ership we have at the national level. The Big “I” is strongly positioned for contin ued success in representing our industry at both the state and national level.
PARTNERS FO R T E NN E S S E E Scan
to report that at the midpoint of this year we have added over twenty new Insurors of Tennes see members and are actively seeking to grow that number by year’s end. The great news is that a time when many as sociations across various industries in the United States are shrinking, we are growing. In fact, the Insurors of Tennes see is one of the largest “Big I” member associations in the nation. On a compar ative basis relative to other states that have larger agency and insurance com pany populations, we are performing well from a membership retention and development standpoint. It is important to note that this success is the result of successive generations of staff, leaders and members who invest their time, tal ent, energy, and money in this associa tion through the years. In this issue of the magazine, we are pro viding you with the names and contact information of those twenty new mem bers. We encourage you to reach out and find opportunities to engage with them throughout the year. Our data shows the more active and involved new mem bers become with the association and its members, the better the experience and the greater the value derived from the membership. The net result is great er member retention. As we all know as
Insurors of Tennessee
issue of membership, if you are member of this association and know of an agency, insurance company or vendor that is not currently an Insur ors of Tennessee member, please invite them to join us via the website at www. insurors.org or a phone call to the Insur I want to take this opportunity to ex press my appreciation to all the Insurors of Tennessee Partners who are present ed on the center fold of this magazine in one of the five partnership catego ries including Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. To date, we have a total of sixty-two Partners who are crit ical to our ability to organize events, provide an array of important services, serve the membership across the state, and carry forward our work to support a healthy and vibrant insurance indus try in Tennessee. Big “I” State Executive Conference Recently, I had the opportunity to at tend the 2022 Independent Agent As I hope you all are enjoying the Summer of 2022 and finding some time to rest, relax and rejuvenate somewhere along the way. It has hard to believe that we are already past the halfway point for this year. Your association continues to grow and develop because of the hard work of the staff, the leadership provid ed by the board and active participation by Wemembers.arepleased
From Your CEO Ron Travis presented by 25The Tennessee Insuror members of the insurance industry, the key to success is about strong retention of clients and robust new business de velopment. The same holds true for this
Whileassociation.onthe
sociation Executives Conference held in Monterey, California. The conference was attended by Big "I" state executives with the purpose of networking and the opportunity to learn from each other. The event was very positive and con structive. I participated in working ses sions throughout the conference with other state executives, Big “I” leadership, and staff to discuss opportunities and to make plans for the future of the associa tion at the national level.
The Tennessee Insuror Kelly greatly enjoys working with her colleagues in Jackson and across the White & Associates organization. Interestingly, Kelly noted that her location in Jackson is an all-women operation, and they are performing exceptionally well. Without saying it in these terms, it is clear she is proud of the “girl power” of their agency. Kelly is quick to say that their office in Jackson welcomes men into the organization and it is just happenstance that they are an all-female office now.
In less than four years with White & Associates, Kelly has been named Rookie of the Year, Personal Lines Account Manager of the Year, and Personal Lines Sales Producer of the Year. She made the move to commercial lines in 2021 and now manages nearly 2 million dollars in Jackson commercial accounts. She is well positioned for future success based on her thirst for knowledge about the insurance business, openness to new challenges, a positive attitude, and her approach to business and life with a servant’s heart.
• White & Associates, Jackson
Insurors of Tennessee thanks Kelly for sharing her story with other members by participating in our Future Leader's Spotlight.
Kelly’s “girl power” story does highlight the importance of women throughout the insurance industry at all levels from the C-Suite to the CSR level in creating success for agencies and companies alike. It also points to the value of the Woman in Insurance (WINS) program supported by the Insurors of Tennessee. If you are not yet involved in the Woman in Insurance (WINS) program, we encourage you to contact Kyra Garrison at kgarrison@insurors.org to learn more.
Kelly and her husband, Luke, met in the second grade at Trinity Christian Academy in Jackson and were childhood friends throughout their school years. When they both went off to college, Kelly was surprised to see Luke across the quad at Union University. She did not know he was attending the same university. Kelly asked Luke out to a formal at the start of that freshman year thinking they would continue their friendship. The friendship evolved into dating throughout the rest of their college years. In storybook fashion, they were married in 2017 to write the next chapter of their life together.
Kelly McCormack
Tennessee Young Agents '22 Future Leaders Spotlight presented by
u Meet Kelly McCormack, an Account Manager at White & Associates - Kristal Carpenter Agency located in Jackson, TN. White & Associates is based in Dyersburg, with offices across the region. Kelly is a graduate of Union University in Jackson where she majored in education and minored in business marketing.
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Rumor has it that they would like to add a “puppy” to their family sometime soon. Kelly and her husband are both active in West Jackson Baptist church just completing a year of teaching Sunday School classes and leading fellowship for college age students at the church. Kelly shares, “We enjoyed the opportunity to lead young adults in their spiritual journey at a time of real transition in their lives.” Now, Kelly and Luke are about to embark upon a new challenge teaching Sunday school to fourth and fifth graders with a whole set of different needs and opportunities for growth.
While attending Union University, in addition to concentrating on her studies, she was very active in student life. Her senior year she served as the President of her sorority and was elected by her peers as Union University Homecoming Queen in 2016. After graduation, Kelly accepted a teaching position in Memphis. After teaching for a year, Kelly was approached about an opportunity in the insurance business back home in Jackson at the Kristal Carpenter Agency. She decided to accept the offer and has not looked back.
When asked about what she enjoys about the job, Kelly states, “I like that there is always something new to learn about commercial insurance, about commercial clients and the insurance business in general.” She adds, “I enjoy serving the needs of my clients and making certain they have the right insurance coverage with the right insurance carrier to protect their interests.” She says, "I also enjoy using my education skills to teach new employees about the job and what it takes to succeed.”
27The Tennessee Insuror From Matt Felgendreher, President of Young Agents and Insurors of Tennessee Board Member We invite all Young Agents to join us for the upcoming Young Agents Fall Happy Hours. Please join us if you can! Admission is FREE. Register at event-calendarhttps://members.insurors.org/orlinkusingtheQR. When: September 1st, 4pm-6pm CST Wher e: Railgarten, 2166 Central Ave, Memphis When: September 8th, 4pm-6pm EST Where: Naked River Brewing & BBQ, 1791 Reggie White Blvd, Chattanooga, TN 37408 When: September 22nd, 4pm-6pm EST Where: Maple Hall, 414 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902 berkleysig.com Berkley Southeast Insurance Group is a member company of W. R. Berkley Corporation, whose insurance company subsidiaries are rated A+ (Superior) by A.M.Best. Products and services are provided by one or more insurance company subsidiaries of W. R. Berkley Corporation. Not all products and services are available in every jurisdiction, and the precise coverage afforded by any insurer is subject to the actual terms and conditions of the policies as issued. ©2019 Berkley Southeast Insurance Group. All rights reserved. Bill Vanderslice, Regional Vice-President 615-932-5508 | bvanderslice@berkleysig.com or your Middle Market Underwriter Your Back-in-Business Insurance Company® Follow us on Our Claim Commitment • 24/7/365 loss reporting-including online • • Accelerated auto and property estimating and repair options • • “Fast Track” medical only claims handling program • • Tele-emergent medicine program-connects injured workers to medical care, not “triage” • Below is just a broad listing. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, please contact us. 0719-38 A M BEST Are you making the Right Choice for their Business? Middle Market Choice Classes* * All classes may not be available in all states. BSIG Makes It Easy With Choice Classes For Middle Market Risks • General Contractors • Building ContractorsTrade • Utility Contractors • Land ContractorsImprovement • Maintenance-NonPavement DOT • Services Contractors • Building Cleaning & Maintenance Contractors • MaterialConstructionSuppliers • Manufacturing • Wholesale Distributingand Want to know more? YA REGISTER
ACCIDENT FUND INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA • AMTRUST • ASSOCIATED INSURANCE CINCINNATI INSURANCE • EMC INSURANCE • GRAHAM-ROGERS INSURANCE • HIPPO INSURANCE PREVISOR INURANCES • SAFEWAY INSURANCE COMPANY • SOUTHERN INSURANCE UNDERWRITERS PARTNERS F O R T E NN E S S E E Thank you for your supporT of Tennessee IndependenT agenTs 28 certified diamond 2022 certified bronze 2022 The generous support of Insurors of Tennessee partners is a key component of our ability to deliver a wide range of services and support to members and to ensure we maintain a healthy and vibrant insurance industry in Tennessee. certified Gold 2022 certified silver 2022 certified Platinum 2022 The Tennessee Insuror
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= Your insights Our strengthsexpertiseand Top-class protection around the world + Your attorney clients know their firm inside and out. You know your markets and your competitors. At Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, we have the capabilities and the financial strength to meet the risk needs of insureds for Lawyer’s Professional Liability. Whether the risk is basic or complex, we believe there’s only one way to arrive at the right solution. And that’s to work together and combine your experience with our expertise and your strengths with our skills. Long-term relationships bring long-term benefits. We’re smarter together. Swiss Re Corporate Solutions is proud to be the exclusively endorsed Lawyer’s Professional Liability provider for the Insurors of Tennessee. For more information or to access the program, please contact administrator Jeff Severino of Lockton Affinity at JSeverino@locktonaffinity.com or 913.652.7520. Insurors of Tennessee Ph 1 800 264 1898 E info@insurors.org Insurance products underwritten by Westport Insurance Corporation, Overland Park, Kansas, United States, a member of Swiss Re Corporate Solutions.
A number of industry groups representing agents, including our national IIABA (“Big I”), have expressed significant con cern over subdivision (ii), the call-recording requirement. In a recent letter, IIABA (along with the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU), National Association of Insur ance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA), and The Council of Insur ance Agents and Brokers (CIAB)) made the following appeal to “ThisCMS: new requirement will add an additional burden to li censed and certified agents attempting to assist Medicare beneficiaries when choosing a suitable health and drug plan. The new regulations will discourage many licensed and certified agents and brokers from representing Medi care Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans, leaving mil lions of Medicare beneficiaries without access to profes sional assistance in their enrollment. Independent agents and brokers are often small businesses without the finan cial resources to implement the recording requirements included in the final rule. The cost of setting up a HIPAAcompliant audio recording system with adequate and pro tected storage capabilities far exceeds the abilities of many of these licensed and certified agents, who are now facing a decision as to whether to participate in this fall’s [annual enrollment period].”
Model Regulation overhauls the standards and procedures required of agents when making recommendations to con sumers for annuity products.
The proposed revisions to the existing rule address insur ance agent conduct in annuity transactions and would es tablish a wide range of new requirements for producers who recommend an annuity to a consumer. The new obligations are comprehensive and robust, but Insurors’ central concern is the inclusion of a so-called “best interest” obligation on
On August 4, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) held a rulemaking hearing on new set of proposed rules to regulate the sale of annuities by insurance producers. The rule is based on a model regulation approved and promoted by the National Association of Insurance Com missioners (NAIC). NAIC’s Suitability in Annuity Transactions
Recent Regulatory Changes to Medicare, Annuity Sales Government & Legal Update
The letter went on to warn that compliance with the final rule prior to this year’s annual enrollment period (AEP) would be “nearly impossible” and potentially “leave thousands of Medicare beneficiaries without the help of licensed agents and brokers and may leave them in the hands of the bad ac tors that this rule seeks to regulate.” As a result, IIABA and the other agent industry groups requested an implementa tion delay of six to 12 months, in order for CMS to “work with stakeholders to develop marketing regulations that will pro tect beneficiaries while allowing them access to their trusted licensed independent agent or broker.”
included in the roughly 200-page final rule, the new regulations rewrite existing marketing re quirements for both Medicare Advantage and Part D planmarketing requirements as part of an effort to “protect Medi care beneficiaries by holding plans accountable to detect and prevent the use of confusing or potentially misleading marketing tactics by third-party marketing organizations.”
Of particular interest to independent agents, the new rule broadly defines third-party marketing organizations (“TP MOs”) to include “independent agents and brokers.” The ef fect is that all agreements between MA plans and agents “must ensure the [agent]: (i) Discloses to the MA organization any subcontracted relationships used for marketing, lead generation, and (ii)enrollment.Recordsall calls with beneficiaries in their entirety, including the enrollment process. (iii) Reports to plans monthly any staff disciplinary actions or violations of any requirements that apply to the MA plan associated with beneficiary interaction to the plan. (iv) Uses the TPMO disclaimer as required under § 422.2267(e)(41).”
In May, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a final rule for the Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug programs. According to a CMS press release, the rule, “advances CMS’ strategic vision of expand ing access to affordable health care and improving health eq uity in Medicare Advantage (“MA”) and Part D through lower out-of-pocket prescription drug costs and improved con sumer Amongprotections.”numerouschanges
Whether CMS grants the request for delay remains a question as this magazine goes to print. Insurors of Tennessee along with our Big I colleagues in Washington, will continue to keep you informed on any CMS decisions regarding the final rule.
As part of our ongoing efforts to monitor the regulatory land scape and its impact on independent agents, we wanted to draw your attention to two recent regulatory developments.
31The Tennessee Insuror
Insurors of Tennessee Opposes TDCI’s Proposed Model Annuities Rule
TDCI is still considering the exact language of Tennessee’s proposed rule after an extended public comment period that closed on August 11. A number of life insurance industry interests, which played a supporting role in shaping the rule
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The Tennessee Insuror at NAIC, have encouraged TDCI’s adoption of the model lan guage. The Tennessee Farm Bureau and Insurors have raised concerns with the rule as initially proposed and requested changes, which TDCI will have an opportunity to consider Whatever the final decision, the rules must be examined and approved as to legality by the Attorney General prior to be ing finalized and filed with the Secretary of State. The rule would then need to be formally approved by the General Assembly in the upcoming legislative session. We will keep you updated in these pages on any develop ments.
New York regulators have appealed the decision to the state’s highest court, and the case is still pending.
About the Author—Trey Moore is the government and legal con sultant for Insurors. He operates Trey Moore Consulting in Nash ville and formerly served as senior public policy counsel for one of Nashville’s larg est law firms. Trey has over a decade of ex perience in representing clients before the Tennessee General Assembly and state government. u agents who recommend annuities. As we outlined in a let ter to TDCI, such a standard creates unnecessary ambiguity. Indeed, the rule is substantially similar to one recently over turned by a New York appellate court for lacking sufficient Inclarity.alawsuit brought by IIABA of New York, a five-judge panel of the Supreme Court Appellate Division unanimously ruled that the regulation was unconstitutionally vague. Notably, the court said, “while the consumer protection goals under lying promulgation of the amendment are laudable, as writ ten, the amendment fails to provide sufficient concrete, prac tical guidance for producers to know whether their conduct, on a day-to-day basis, comports with the amendment’s cor responding requirements for making recommendations and compiling and evaluating the relevant suitability information of the consumer.”
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33The Tennessee Insuror RLI is a proud member of the Big “I”. Contact us to gain access to comprehensive insurance solutions and protect your commercial and personal lines customers from the unique risks they face. From our specialized solutions to our focus on building strong relationships with the agents we work with, we’re different. And at RLI, DIFFERENT WORKS . PRODUCTS AVAILABLE THROUGH BIG “I” MARKETS: Home Business • Personal Umbrella Learn more about our specialty insurance solutions at RLICORP.COM . INNOVATIVE INSURANCE PARTNERSHIPSOLUTIONS.FOCUSED.
34 The Tennessee Insuror Managing General Agents | Wholesale Insurance Brokers We are family-ownedthird-generation,&independent.Honesty,Integrity&Trust.We’vebeenDoingtheRightThingsince1964. We are a third-generation, family-owned, independent managing general agency and wholesale insurance broker with a history of valuing and trusting business relationships. Our underwriters and brokers coordinate among specialty teams to meet the needs of multi-faceted risk opportunities, piecing each risk puzzle together for our producers. We strive to be a premier resource through our core pillars of honesty, integrity, respect and trust. 800.878.9891 ArlingtonRoe.com Let us help you find the right solutions. Aviation | Bonds | Cannabis | Casualty | Commercial Agribusiness | Farm Healthcare & Human Services | Personal Lines | Professional Liability | Property | Transportation | Workers’ Compensation
Association Update
“Transferable Skills are learned from experience which in cludes prior careers, education, volunteer work, or personal encounters. What are the top three skills you transferred from outside the insurance industry to your current job role? Dis cuss how you leverage your skills, continue to develop and evolve them, and how you transfer your expertise to others to ensure perpetually exceptional customer service.”
Wins 2022 Ripley Rotary Vocational Award of the Year
Additionally, entrants must have demonstrated commend able service to their agencies, their industry, and their com we are pleased to announce that Alicia Potter, CISR at RSS Insurance of Chattanooga earned the Outstanding CSR or the Year Award in Tennessee joining 35 other state winners from across the country. It is truly an honor to win at the state level and to join insurance professionals from across the nation in competition for the national award. Alicia has been with RSS Insurance for over 4 years serving commercial insurance clients and has contributed to the ongoing success of RSS Insurance in the Chattanooga market and beyond.
Beyond her exceptional performance as a Commercial Client Account Manager at RSS Insurance, she has a busy life out side of work. Alicia has two adult children including a daugh ter who works in insurance in Iowa and a son who is an auto body mechanic in Alabama. When their schedules permit, they enjoy getting together as a family. Alicia has two rescue dogs who keep her busy and entertained. Alicia says dad was a contractor, so I grew up helping build things. Now, I love to do home improvement projects and repurpose furniture. I do not like shopping unless it’s to the local home improve ment store or an antique, or thrift store looking for a find to repurpose.
The Rotary Club of Ripley announced Norfleet Anthony III as the 2022 Rotary Vocational Award of the Year at the club’s an nual banquet held on June 28, 2022. The presentation was made by Ripley Rotarian President and wife, Amy Anthony. Norfleet is a lifelong resident and small business owner of S.N. Anthony Inc. Norfleet has been a state licensed insurance agent for 38 years. He has “grown up” in the family business that began in 1907. Norfleet is a fourth generation owner and believes in growing the business and honoring the legacy of past gener ations. Norfleet serves as President of IOT for year 2021-2022. He takes his role as President seriously and is dedicated to his industry, relationships and the legacy of Insurors of Tennessee.
35The Tennessee Insuror Alicia Potter Named 2022 ingcomestatesaretionalEachByOutstandingTennesseeCSRNationalAllianceyear,agroupofexcepinsuranceprofessionalsselectedtorepresenttheirandthencompetetobetheNationalOutstandCSRoftheYear.Thispresti
Working to Elevate the Future of Our RecentlyIndustryInsurors
Thismunity.year
gious award, regarded as the foremost national award of its kind, recognizes the contributions and commitment of those who serve clients within the insurance industry. To be eligible for the top state honor, the 2022 candidates submitted an essay on the following topic:
met with Chamber of Com merce VP of Education, Rena Hall and Director of Education and Talent Development, Shohreh Daraei to discuss several ways Insurors of Tennes see could get involved with educating high schools about careers in Anthonyinsurance.
SERVPRO Sponsors CE Class and Tailgate Luncheon in Knoxville
Join us on October 6 for CE Classes and Tailgate Luncheon! Learn from industry experts while having fun at the same time. Begin the day with a 9 AM - 12 PM Ethics class. The tail gate luncheon follows from 12 PM to 1 PM, including a game of trivia to win prizes. End with a Mitigation class 1 PM - 3 PM.
Norfleet joined Ripley Rotary Club in 1985 and has faithfully served, attended and led as President and Honduras Project Chair. He currently sits on the Board and in like manner, strives to honor the legacy and relationships in Ripley and Rotary.
A big thanks to SERVPRO for sponsoring this event. 3306 Ragsdale Avenue, Knoxville Register Here
36 The Tennessee Insuror WINS Visits Knoxville and Plans for Next Meeting in October
We recently visited our Region III WINS members in Knox ville where we held a social networking event at Embassy Suites. At this event we heard from Maryann Appert, a Wish Kid’s mom of Andrew who is a pediatric cancer survivor. She shared her touching story of how Make-A-Wish brought strength and hope to Andrew and his family. Maryann is an active volunteer and supporter of Make-A-Wish E. Tennessee. IOT donated $500 to the Make-A-Wish foundation after her visit and we look forward to working more with Make-A-Wish in the future. Our event ended with good food and lots of laughs. It is always great to help women in our industry make lasting connections through Insurors. Our next meeting will take place at the Insurors of Tennes see’s, Insurefest on Oct. 16, 2022. We already have 60 wom en signed up for it and are excited to host our outstanding members at the event. We also have a linkedin group for our members who wish to be part of our WINS network. A link for it can be found at the Insurors of Tennessee linkedin page.
WINS is open to all women in the insurance industry and encourages networking, idea exchange, and philanthropy Wesupport.invite you to follow WINS on Linkedin by scanning the QR code. at August event in Knoxville.
u SERVING INDEPENDENT AGENTS & THEIR CLIENTS SINCE 1989 Bailey Special Ri S k S , i nc. We specialize so you don’t have to. 1.800.768.7475 • www.bsrins.com • questions@bsrins.com Professional Liability • Management Liability • Data Privacy & Security Liability WINS members pose for a photo
the
Association Update continued
37The Tennessee Insuror BETTER THAN A CRYSTAL BALL. The new E&O Guardian insurance agency risk management web site is designed to arm Big “I” members with information and tools to mitigate agency errors and omissions. Big “I” members can tap into a variety of educational materials designed to safeguard your agency. Explore the site and dive into specialty agency risk management articles on a wide variety of topics, recorded webinars, sample checklists, sample letters, an archive of newsletters, and more. Your future is in your hands! E&O GUARDIAN www.independentagent.com/EOGuardianPROFESSIONALLIABILITY.While we canʼt see the future, we can learn from the past and warn of perils your agency may face. FREE ACCESS FOR BIG “I” MEMBERS! 5/22
38 The Tennessee Insuror ONE SIZE FITS ONE. Selective is committed to working with independent agents in Tennessee just like you. Together, we can provide Commercial, Personal, and Flood coverage for each unique customer. Contact Dan Schilling, Territory Manager, at dan.schilling@selective.com and help your customers Be Uniquely Insured. © 2021 Selective Ins. Group, Inc., Branchville, NJ. Products vary by jurisdiction, terms, and conditions and are provided by Selective Ins. Co. of America and its insurer affiliates. Details at selective.com/about/ affiliated-insurers.aspx. SI-21-037
Company Briefs
“Over the past 20 years, our approach to strategic planning is directly correlated to our industry-leading financial and operational performance,” said Ben Salzmann, Acuity President and CEO. “From company wide growth in revenue and policyholders’ surplus to profitability that protects all our stakeholders, Acuity continues to surpass our competition.”
The NAMIC Award in Innovation was created to recognize mutual companies who exemplify the vision and entrepreneurialism it takes to stay relevant in changing times.
Acuity is the Overall Winner of the 2022 Award in Innovation, presented by the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), making the company the only insurer in the country to earn NAMIC’s overall award. Acuity earned the top award from NAMIC for the insurer’s innovative strategic planning process.
travelers.com © 2016 The Travelers Indemnity Company. All rights reserved. Travelers and the Travelers Umbrella logo are registered trademarks of The Travelers Indemnity Company in the U.S. and other countries. M-17942 New 5-16
Acuity Wins Top Award in Innovation
Working with the independent agency system is one of the most worthwhile investments we can make. Travelers is proud to sponsor the Insurors of Tennessee 129th Annual Convention. We invest in bonds. The human kind. The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is an insurance company that cares. Travel ers takes on the risk and provides the cov erage you need to protect the things that are important to you — your home, your car, your valuables and your business — so you don’t have to worry. We have been around for more than 165 years and have earned a reputation as one of the best property casualty insurers in the indus try because we take care of our custom ers. Our expertise and focus on innovation have made us a leader in personal, business and specialty insurance and the only prop erty casualty company in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Every day, our approxi mately 30,000 employees and 13,500 inde pendent agents and brokers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland help provide peace of mind to our customers.
According to NAMIC, Acuity’s approach to strategic planning helps the company to set its direction, shape its brand, affirm it is headed on the right course, and allows it to make continual, incremental changes when they are needed.
The impact of Acuity’s approach to strategic planning over the past two decades has enabled the company to experience company wide growth in revenue more than 2.6 times higher than the industry average rate; policyholder surplus more than 4.2 times higher than the industry average; voluntary turnover five times lower than the industry average; and revenue per employee more than 22% higher than the industry.
39The Tennessee Insuror Business Consulting. “We thank NAMIC for recognizing our innovation with this award, a clear reflection of the phenomenal team at Acuity that makes our success a reality.”
“Acuity clearly believes planning is a continual, disciplined, iterative process that helps the company manage organizational risk while maintaining relevance. It is critical we embrace and implement innovative processes, technologies, and, more importantly, ways of thinking to move our industry forward. Innovation, in whatever form, ensures that the industry stays competitive and provides the high level of service policyholders have come to rely on. I am grateful for the ingenuity and commitment Acuity has contributed to the insurance industry,” said Neil Alldredge, NAMIC President and CEO. “Our strategic planning keeps us at the forefront of new developments, emerging trends, and forces shaping the insurance business. It is designed not just to help us react to changing conditions, but to capitalize on disruptive and potentially revolutionary developments taking place in insurance and beyond,” said Melissa Winter, Acuity’s Vice President –
Ward Group, a business unit of Aon plc, is a leading provider of benchmarking and best practices studies for the insur ance industry. Every year, Ward Group analyzes the financial performance of nearly 3,000 property-casualty insurers and identifies the top 50 in the United States. Each company must pass all safety and consistency tests and achieve superior performance over the five years analyzed in several areas, in cluding revenue growth, surplus growth, and average com bined ratio. For further details and a complete list of the 2022 Ward’s 50® companies, visit Ward's 50 Property-Casualty Companies Acuity(aon.com).Health
“TheVictims.Acuity Health Challenge reflects our commitment to wellness and our support for the wellbeing of the entire community,” said Ben Salzmann, Presi dent and CEO, Acuity.
Harford Mutual Insurance Group has been named to the pres tigious Ward’s 50 ® list of top-performing property-casualty insurance companies for the second consecutive year. The company was recognized for outstanding financial results in the areas of safety, consistency, and performance over the past five years, from 2017 - 2021.
Challenge Raises Over $10K to Benefit Medical Services for Abuse Victims Acuity Insurance an nounced that the 2022 Acuity Health Challenge raised more than $10,000 to benefit Aurora’s Medical Response Services for Abuse
Company Briefs continued
J.M. Wilson AnnouncementsPortage,MIJuly 2022 - J.M. Wilson is pleased to announce the return of Kayley Hartley (previously Kay ley Dana) as Senior Transportation Underwriter in their Charleston, South Carolina office. Kayley is re sponsible for underwriting a wide variety of new and renewal com mercial transportation accounts, as well as maintaining relation ships with carriers and independent insurance agents in Flor ida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
“This is the second year in a row and only the second time in our 180-year history of receiving this honor, achieving results outperforming nearly 3,000 other P&C carriers in the indus try, said Steven Linkous, President and CEO of Harford Mu tual Insurance Group. “While good fortune does play a role, this highest achievement is only possible with the hard work, dedication, and keen execution of successful strategies. It also speaks to the incredible capacity, unity, and power of our Board of Directors, Leadership Team, Management Team, and each and every employee of our great company.”
In its tenth year, the Acuity Health Challenge featured a 5K or 2-mile run/walk. More than 450 people completed the Chal lenge in person, which was held on Acuity’s campus at 2800 South Taylor Drive in Sheboygan, and another 42 participants supported the event virtually. In addition to the Challenge it self, participants and spectators alike were welcomed to the event by Acuity’s Vendor Village, which hosted a variety of local vendors who help sponsor the highly anticipated goody bags provided to participants of the Challenge.
The 5k overall winners were, in the men’s division, Timmy Brey with a time of 15:29 and, in the women’s division, Miranda Cobb with a time of 22.36. In addition to a well-stocked goody bag and a custom race day T-shirt, the Health Challenge also provided lunch to participants, which included bagel sand wiches, homemade granola bars from Fresh Meals on Wheels, sausage and cheese sticks from Old Wisconsin, and Acuity Ex ecutive Chef Mike Luedke’s famous strawberry soup.
Kayley first joined JM Wilson in 2015 as a Transportation Un derwriter. Prior to JM Wilson, she was an underwriting intern at an insurance company. An Appalachian State University graduate, Kayley double majored in Insurance and Risk Man agement, and Finance and J.M.Banking.Wilson is pleased to an nounce the addition of Anne Camburn as Assistant Trans portation Underwriter in their Charleston, South Carolina office.
Anne is responsible for assisting underwriters with a wide variety of new and renewal commercial transportation accounts, as well as maintaining relationships with carriers and independent
40 The Tennessee Insuror Harford Mutual Insurance Group Named to Ward’s 50® List of Top-Performing Insurance Companies for Second Consecutive Year
expenses
brand. Members
Big
41The Tennessee Insuror If you need print, advertising or digital marketing services and would like to take advantage of your co-branding funds, contact Titan Digital at 615.890.3600 or visit TitanInsWebsites.com Co-brand with the Trusted Choice logo* General Co-branded Marketing: Up to $750 in reimbursement when co-branding with the Trusted Choice logo on any consumer facing items. This could include business cards, brochures, advertising costs, event sponsorship, branded giveaway items and more. (This program has a lifetime max value of $750 per agency location) *Co-branding funds and additional 2021 digital marketing funds are reimbursed at 50% of cost to agency with a max of $750 for each option. Digital Marketing Incentive: Additional $750 in Funds Available for 2021 Only! Open to all members. Must be used towards digital marketing efforts (video, social or web ads) and must include the Trusted Choice logo. Members can use any of the Trusted Choice customizable campaigns or can create their own ad.
Trusted Choice has funds available to help “I” member agencies offset the cost of marketing when leveraging the Trusted Choice have multiple ways to access funds: of
Trusted Choice MARKETING REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM Endorsed Partner
she’s MAde for THIS work we’re made for WORKERS’ COMP We know what it’s like to be passionate about what you do, it’s how we feel about workers’ comp. For over 30 years we’ve been helping employers protect their businesses, and most importantly, their employees. We focus on your insurance coverage so you can stay focused on doing what you love. 888.884.5822 • Rated A- Excellent by Discover the LUBA Difference at LUBAwc.com/madeforthis
Retirement Services Staffing
43
Area Manager Dion.Matos@bbsi.com760.445.5909
Tennessee Launches its Own Captive Insurance Company for Cyber, Property Tennessee regulators, who for years have touted the state as a comfortable home for captive insurance companies, have announced that the state government has created its own captive.
Services With BBSI, you’ll have a dedicated Business Unit team who knows you and your business. In addition to payroll support and our full suite of consulting services, you’ll have access to our unique pay-as-you-go workers’ compensation program. BBSI will help you look at your business holistically in order to improve your efficiency, mitigate risk, and reduce administrative burdens. Full PEO Support To Take Your Business To The Next Level Call today or towww.bbsi.com/nashvillevisitlearnmore.
The Tennessee Insuror insurance agents in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Prior to joining JM Wilson, Anne was an administrative assistant, a business administrator, and a preschool teacher.
J.M. Wilson is pleased to announce the addition of Angelo Marcey as Assistant Transportation Under writer in their Charleston, South Carolina office. Angelo is respon sible for assisting underwriters with a wide variety of new and re newal commercial transportation accounts, as well as maintaining relationships with carriers and independent insurance agents in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Ten nessee. Prior to joining JM Wilson, Angelo held supervisory positions in administration, accounts receivable and retail J.M.management.Wilsonis pleased to announce the promotion of Grant Schweisthal to Surety Underwriter in their Carmel, Indiana office. Grant is responsible for underwriting a wide variety of contract bonds, issuing the ma jority of JM Wilson’s commercial bond renewals, corresponding with carrier underwriters, and as sisting independent insurance agents on existing accounts in all states. Grant joined JM Wilson in 2019 as an Assistant Surety Underwriter. Prior to JM Wilson, he worked in the financial sector as a Brokerage Associate. An Indiana Wesleyan University graduate, Grant earned a bach elor’s degree in Business Administration and Economics.
Dion Matos -
Company Briefs continued
.COM
STONETRUSTINSURANCE
44
The state is self-insured for property and general liability, but the Tennessee Captive Insurance Co. will let Tennessee government access wholesale reinsurance markets to reduce premiums and minimize volatility in pricing, the state Trea
The potential savings from the captive may be used to write policies with lower premiums, or to return or invest the sav ings to prepare for future claim payouts. The state captive in surance company initially will only issue property and cyber liability policies, but the state may add other lines of cover age in future years, officials said.
The Tennessee Insuror
800.311.0997
“Commerce & Insurance has advocated for captive insurance as a smart business option to lower costs and increase spe cifically tailored protections,” said Department of Commerce & Insurance Commissioner Carter Lawrence. “Now that the state is establishing a captive insurance company, taxpayers will benefit from these same advantages.”
The state Division of Claims and Risk expects the captive company to help insure unique and difficult risks and reduce overall insurance costs. The use of a captive could also allow the state to better evaluate and control the risks of Tennes see state government. Captive insurance companies in Ten nessee are regulated by the Tennessee Department of Com merce and Insurance. The department recently granted the state captive authority to operate, following authorizing leg islation by the Tennessee General Assembly.
sury Department said in a news release. “This covers all stateowned buildings and contents, including the campuses of Tennessee public institutions of higher learning, with a total property value of $31.4 billion as of July 2022.”
Brentwood Services Acquired By Acrisure
Brentwood Services, Inc., a leading provider of insurance re lated claims services specializing in alternative-market solu tions, has entered into an agreement to become an Acrisure Partner. Acrisure is a fintech leader that operates one of the ten largest insurance brokers in the world. Richard (Dick) Hammer started Brentwood Services in 1990 and conducted an extensive search for a firm that shared the same vision and values. The deal to join Acrisure was finalized on July 1, 2022. “Brentwood has an outstanding reputation in the TPA market and Acrisure’s business model and innovative tech nology makes this partnership a great one. With this agree ment, Brentwood maintains its identity and leverages Acri sure’s resources, entrepreneurial network and technology to do what we do best — provide customized services to meet the unique needs of our clients,” said Keith Fawcett, CEO of Brentwood Services. u Along with offering workers’ compensation and employers’ liability insurance, Stonetrust works to help companies prevent accidents and remain Stonetrust Safe an entire system of in-house processes and services designed to achieve safety goals and keep premiums and claim costs down. At our core, we are a relationship-driven company and are always working hard to be the “first choice” workers’ compensation carrier in all of our markets.
Company Briefs continued
45The Tennessee Insuror HANK KNIGHT | Sales Executive | 502.561.9991 | hank.knight@ipfs.com Premium financing made easy with the Imperial PFS® suite of industry-leading technology to start your digital transformation 1. Imperial PFS is a trade name affiliated with IPFS Corporation® (IPFS®), a premium finance company. Access to products and services described herein may be subject to change and are subject to IPFS’ standard terms and conditions in all respects, including those specifically applicable to use of IPFS’ website, mobile application, and IPFS’ eForms Disclosure and Consent Agreement. 2. Our electronic payment processing provider charges a technology fee where permitted by law. Copyright © 2022 IPFS Corporation. All rights reserved.
46 The Tennessee Insuror Agents Serving Our Community Kemmons Wilson, Memphis Members of the Kemmons Wilson Insurance Group support ed the Forrest Spence Fund mission at a fundraiser earlier this year. The Forrest Spence Fund and the work they do assists with the non-medical needs of critically or chronically ill chil dren and their families! Dwelling Fire • Limited Homeowners • Comprehensive Mobile Homeowners • Vacant Property • Life & Health Elba, Alabama National Security has provided competitive, affordable insurance to policyholders for 75 years. We also provide our agents with competitive commissions, excellent customer service and experienced company adjusters. As a Southeastern based regional company, National Security prides itself on fast, efficient service from a friendly small town company. Our agent website provides fast quotes, online policy issuance, and real-time policy information. Find out more about our products by calling 1-800798-2294 or visiting Celebratingnationalsecuritygroup.com75Years Of Providing Competitive, Affordable Insurance. Elba, Alabama Swallows Insurance, Putnam County Swallows Insurance Agency with offices in Cookeville, Liv ingston and Smithville, partnered with WCTE, a Putnam County PBS TV station, to sponsor the 96th annual Putnam County CongratulationsFair. to the fair for being named the #1 County Fair in the state by the Tennessee Association of Fairs! “ u
47The Tennessee Insuror Talk to your territory manager or find one at LibertyMutualGroup.com/Business and Safeco.com/agent-resources © 2021 Liberty Mutual Insurance, 175 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116 We do more. So you can grow more. The right products and programs to help you compete.
The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 700, Nashville, TN, 37219-2417. Website: www.nasba.org. Advanced Curriculum Rating = 20 CPE Credits. For more information regarding administrative policies such as complaint and refund, please contact offices at 800-633-2165. Courses courses are available On-Demand and as Live webinars at the IIABA Virtual University *check the VU site for course offerings, CE and pricing (independentagent.com/vu)
To the right is a partial listing of upcoming webcasts.
Additional
Choose from the following programs CIC, CRM, CISR, CPRM, CSRM, Dynamics, RGS, MEGA, PROFOCUS, WTH, Intro, Producer School, Ethics, Flood and other.
48 The Tennessee Insuror Register for CISR & CIC at www.insurors.org under education. The following is a list of "in person" courses available in Tennessee this year. CISR Fee: $186 CE: 7 9/27 CISR Personal Lines Misc. Johnson City 9/28 CISR Personal Lines Misc. Knoxville 9/29 CISR Personal Lines Misc. Chattanooga 12/6 CISR Commercial Property Nashville 12/7 CISR Commercial Property Memphis CIC Fee: $430 CE: 16 9/28-29 CIC Commercial Multiline Nashville 11/9-10 CIC Company Operations Nashville 3/1-2 CIC Agency Management Nashville Additional courses for designation programs are offered ondemand at your own pace and as live webinars.
our
Additional
be found online or by contacting Teresa Durham at tdurham@insurors.org or 615.515.2607. Education Calendar ABEN Webcasts (insurors.aben.tv) Active Shooter/Workplace Violence Ins. CE: 2 $48 9/6 9/23 10/4 10/24 Contracts Agents Should Read CE :2 $48 9/6 9/23 10/4 10/24 Flood Program Overview - NFIP Then/Now CE: 3 $72 9/6 9/23 10/4 10/24 E&O - Roadmap to Pers. Auto & Umbrella Ins. - #1 CE: 3 $72 9/7 9/12 10/5 10/10 E&O - Roadmap to Pers. Auto & Umbrella Ins. - #2 CE: 3 $72 9/7 9/12 10/5 10/10 E&O - Commercial Property Coverage Gaps - #1 CE: 3 $72 9/1 9/7 9/9 9/13 9/16 10/6 10/21 E&O - Commercial Property Coverage Gaps - #2 CE: 3 $72 9/1 9/7 9/9 9/13 9/16 10/6 10/21 E&O - Roadmap to Homeowners Ins. - #1 CE: 3 $72 9/2 9/19 10/7 10/17 E&O - Roadmap to Homeowners Ins. - #2 CE: 3 $72 9/2 9/19 10/7 10/17 E&O - Homeowners Endors. & Personal IM - #1 CE: 3 $72 9/15 9/26 10/3 10/20 E&O - Homeowners Endors. & Personal IM - #2 CE: 3 $72 9/15 9/26 10/3 10/20 Directors and Officers Liability Insurance CE: 3 $72 9/9 9/22 10/12 10/24 Premium Auditing–What Every Agent Must Know CE: 2 $48 9/14 9/23 10/12 10/28 Law of Ins. Contracts & ‘Rules’ of Policy Interpret. CE: 3 $72 9/14 9/23 10/12 10/28 Torts, Negligence and Legal Liability CE: 3 $72 9/14 9/23 10/12 10/28 Commercial Prop. Underwriting & Rating: COPE CE: 3 $72 9/14 9/23 10/12 10/28 Risk Mgmt. & Ins.: Why Agents Are NOT Risk Mgrs. CE: 3 $72 9/14 9/23 10/12 10/28 Understanding the Ins. Industry: From Regs to Ops. CE: 3 $72 9/14 9/23 10/12 10/28 Basics of Prop. Values & Coinsurance Conditions CE: 3 $72 9/14 9/23 10/12 10/28 Contractual Risk Transfer, Addl. Insureds & Certs. CE: 4 $96 9/14 9/23 10/12 10/28 Insurance Accounting for Dummies and Geniuses CE: 3 $72 9/8 9/28 10/13 10/26 Cyber Security and Insurance Risk Management CE: 2 $48 9/8 E&O10/13-Roadmap to Policy Analysis - #1 CE: 3 $72 9/8 9/9 9/14 9/19 9/28 10/14 10/26 E&O - Roadmap to Policy Analysis - #2 CE: 3 $72 9/9 9/15 9/20 9/28 10/14 10/26 Business Auto Claims That Cause Problems CE: 2 $48 9/14 9/20 10/12 10/25
The Insurors of Tennessee offers education opportunities to member agents across a wide range of insurance specialties that satisfy individuals at many different experience levels. If you are looking to further your career, seeking to satisfy continuing education each class can
ABEN Webcasts (insurors.aben.tv)
From The National Alliance (www.scic.com)
Insurors of Tennessee has partnered with CEU, powered by The Institutes, to provide you with relevant and conve nient online insurance continuing education (CE) courses. Through our partnership with CEU, you will enjoy a 35% dis count on any of CEU’s relevant, practical courses when you log in. More than 150 course topics
a professional designation, or need
requirements, check out the variety of courses available. Additional course options and details of
From The Institutes (ceu.com/customer/insurors-tn )
Choose by topic, location, delivery method and/or date.
Reach new heights. You have invested time and energy into your firm, and you’re still passionate about the insurance business, your clients and your employees. If you’re interested in taking your business to the next level, while enjoying the fruits of your labor, let’s explore a possible partnership. Why insurance firms choose to partner with Higginbotham: • Ten-year average return of 30% IRR • Ten-year average annual shareholder distribution of 25% • Insurance Business America, 2022 Top Insurance Employer • Privately-held and run by insurance professionals • Majority ownership held by employee shareholders • Leverage Higginbotham’s consistent 20% compound annual growth rate • Broad risk management and benefit plan services add client value to support your growth • Maintain your leadership role • $5 million donated to nonprofits through the Higginbotham Community Fund Are you ready to soar? Contact David Fishel | (817) 349-2260 | dfishel@higginbotham.com Seehigginbotham.comwhatouragencypartnersaresaying Our Tennessee-based Partners
See you at the ACT TECH Summit Gaylord Opryland Resort
Sneak Peek at the ACT TECH Summit
Data - The power of: Capturing it well, GIGO, auditing, le veraging it for agency decision making, "ownership", tools that help Info Security/Privacy - Current state of the world, real risk examples to agents/customers, mitigation strategies (train ing, encryption, MFA, endpoint) availability/terms of cyber, tools that help Walk a Mile in Each Other's Shoes - Carrier, agent, tech pro vider discuss bias and relevant topics from each other's point of
October 2:
- May be part of data but with 3000+ car riers all asking different UW/rating questions and more so phisticated rating models, what is tomorrow's definition of Things"standards"IWish - What do agents, carriers, tech providers wish the other stakeholders knew about their plight, invest ments, goals, and motivations.
Culture - DE&I - Hiring - Technology's role in larger business issues facing today's agencies
Online Registration for the Southern Agents Conference is now open. Scan the QR to register today! Big I Leadership Conference September 14–18, 2022 Niagara Falls, NY ACT TECH Summit October 2, 2022 Nashville, TN Insurors 129th Annual Convention October 15-18, 2022 Nashville Big I E&O Program Conference November 13-15, 2022 Kansas City, MO Southern Agents Conference December 2–4, 2022 Atlanta, GA
Standardizationview
API - What is and isn't being done, what should a priority, can we get there, what is reality, important activities that would benefit the most
50 The Tennessee Insuror Meetings- Mark Your Calendars
People - Process - Technology - Strategy first conversation. Align with goals all enterprise chnage and executions needs effective management of each and neither can solve some thing on its own
Online Registration Deadline is September 15, 2022 Scan the QR to register today!
38 The Tennessee Insuror “Exclusive member agencies, collaborating to bring the best insurance solutions to their clients.” The Allison Insurance Group - Jackson Assured Insurance Consultants, LLC - Morristown Bagley & Bagley Insurance - Fayetteville Boyle Insurance Agency, Inc. - Memphis Burke, Powers & Harty - Bristol Carnal-Roberts Agency, Inc. - Lexington Frank E. Neal & Company, Inc. - Nashville Goss Insurance - Hixson Higgins Insurance - Clarksville/Hopkinsville, KY Inter-Agency Insurance Services - Knoxville Martin & Zerfoss, Inc. - Nashville McInturff, Milligan & Brooks - Greeneville Miller | Loughry | Beach Insurance Services - Murfreesboro Ownby Insurance Service, Inc. - Sevierville Powell & Meadows Insurance Agency - Carthage Smith-Berclair Insurance, Inc. - Memphis S.N. Anthony, Inc. - Ripley Sunbelt Insurance Group - Chattanooga Tigrett & Pennington Inc. - Dyersburg Watauga Insurance, Inc. - Johnson City Get more information now at www.securerisk.com WORKING TOGETHER 51
Add resources to your...notagencytoyour payroll When you align with Keystone, your staff increases by almost a factor of 200. Keystone empowers its network of agencies with the resources to compete on any account, of any size, against any firm in the world! Because independence works better together! CONTACT FOR CarolynINFORMATIONMORENalley keystoneinsgrp.comcnalley@keystoneinsgrp.com570-473-2147 ©2021 Keystone Insurers Group ®. All rights reserved. This does not constitute an offer to sell a franchise in any state in which the Keystone Insurers Group franchise is not registered. 52
The point is: Wellbeing at work isn't at odds with anyone's What'sagenda."the solution? In a previous study on burnout, Gallup found the biggest source was unfair treatment at work, fol lowed by unmanageable workload, unclear communication from managers, lack of manager support and unreasonable time pressure. Clifton pointed out the one thing those five causes have in common: the boss.
“A manager's effect on a workplace is so significant that Gal lup can predict 70% of the variance in team engagement just by getting to know the boss," he wrote. “Managers need to be better listeners, coaches and collaborators. Great managers help colleagues learn and grow, recognize their colleagues for doing great work, and make them truly feel cared about. In environments like this, workers thrive." u
Forty-four percent of employees around the world reported experiencing stress during “a lot" of the day, according to the survey. The stress levels are up from the previous record of 43% in Working2020.women consistently report higher levels of stress globally compared to men, with 1 in 2 U.S. and Canadian women saying they experi enced stress a lot of the previ ous Onlyday.21% of employees say they are engaged at work, which Gallup describes as “highly involved in and enthu siastic about their work and workplace," a group that rose by 1 percentage point from 2020 but remains below the 2019 peak. Unfortunately, 66% of workers are not engaged, mean ing psychologically unattached, at work. And 19% are active ly disengaged workers, which Gallup defines as “resentful" and “acting out of their unhappiness."
Forty-four percent of employees around the world reported experiencing stress during “a lot" of the day, according to the Gallup report. By AnneMarie McPherson Spears, IA news editor sponsibilities, they are also 23% more likely to visit the emer gency Amongroom.workers who experienced stress during the day, 49% were neither thriving or engaged versus 30% who were thriving and engaged. Among those who experienced anger, 24% were neither thriving or engaged compared to 11% who were thriving and en gaged. And among those who experienced health problems, 16% were neither thriving or engaged, while only 8% were thriving and engaged.
Employee Stress at All-Time High, Says Gallup
Employees' stress is at an all-time high—again—accord ing to Gallup's “State of the Global Workplace 2022 Report."
Employee disengagement should be taken seriously, accord ing to Gallup, estimating that low engagement costs the global economy $7.8 trillion and accounts for 11% of gross domestic product (GDP) globally. One-third of global workers say they are thriving in their overall wellbeing. Both South Asia and Europe dropped five percentage points in wellbeing in the past year, with South Asia having the lowest wellbeing in the world at 11%. Despite employees in the U.S. and Canada clocking up some of the highest levels of worry and stress, the region also has the most engaged employees. Globally, North America comes in No. 1 for employee engagement at 33% and No. 2 for wellbe ing at However,60%.employee disengagement and wellbeing are in terconnected. Workers who report being engaged but not thriving are 61% more likely to experience ongoing burnout than those who are both engaged and thriving. And employ ees who consistently experience higher levels of burnout at work not only say their job makes it difficult to fulfill family re
53The Tennessee Insuror Your Big "I"
With the “Great Resignation" a constant concern, it's no surprise that workers in North America are looking to switch employment, with 71% of U.S. and Canadian workers saying now is a good time to find a job. However, globally, only 45% of employees say now is a good time to find a job—up from last year's 44% but significantly less than 2019's record 55%.
“Business units with engaged workers have 23% higher profit compared with business units with miserable workers," wrote Jon Clifton, Gallup CEO, in the study. “Additionally, teams with thriving workers see significantly lower absenteeism, turn over and accidents; they also see higher customer loyalty.
54 The Tennessee Insuror ACUITY 920 . 458 . 9131 www.acuity.com 15 Arlington/Roe 800 . 878 . 9891 www.arlingtonroe.com 34 AutoOwners 800 . 346 . 0346 www.auto-owners.com 7 Bailey Special Risks, Inc. 800 . 768 . 7475 www.bsrins.com 36 BBSI 760 . 445 . 5909 www.bbsi.com 43 Berkley Southeast Insurance Group 615 . 932 . 5508 www.berkleysig.com 27 Berkshire Hathaway Guard Insurance Cos. 800 . 673 . 2465 x4567 www.guard.com/apply 32 BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee 800 . 565 . 9140 www.bcbst.com 13 Builders Mutual 800 . 809 . 4859 www.buildersmutual.com 16 Harford Mutual 800 . 638 . 3669 www.harfordmutual.com 9 Imperial PFS 443 . 613 . 4820 www.ipfs.com 45 INSBANK 866 . 866 . 4268 www.insbanktn.com 12 J.M. Wilson 800 . 595 . 0063 www.jmwilson.com 11 Keystone Insurers Group 800 . 416 . 5498 www.keystoneinsgrp.com 52 Liberty Mutual/Safeco 800 . 837 . 5254 libertymutual.com | safeco.com 47 Lipscomb & Pitts | A Higginbotham Partner 901 . 335 . 0951 www.lpinsurance.com 49 LUBA Workers' Comp 888 . 884 . 5822 www.lubawc.com 42 MidSouth Mutual Insurance Company 844 . 438 . 6642 www.midsouthmutual.com 56 Mountain Empire Agency Alliance 423 . 560 . 6077 www.meaa4u.com/insurors 19 National Security Group 800 . 239 . 2358 x213 www.nationalsecuritygroup.com 46 Nationwide Insurance 423 . 927 . 2060 www.nationwide.com 55 Oaktree Brokerage 800 . 842 . 9124 x508 www.oaktreeus.com 2 Partner Platform 614 . 850 . 2684 www. sispartnerplatform.com 22 Penn National Insurance 800 . 395 . 0518 www.pennnationalinsurance.com 20 RLI PUP 615 . 515 . 2609 www.insurors.org 33 SecureRisk 770 . 723 . 8096 www.securerisk.com 51 Selective Insurance 877 . 744 . 3125 www.selective.com 38 Stonetrust Insurance 800 . 311 . 0997 www.stonetrustinsurance.com 44 Summit Holdings 800 . 971 . 2667 www.summitholdings.com 10 Swiss Re Lawyer's Professional Liability 630 . 213 . 9952 www.swissre.com 30 Titan Digital 615 . 890 . 3600 www.titanwms.com 41 West Bend Mutual Insurance Co. 800 . 236 . 5010 www.thesilverlining.com 24 Directory of Advertisers Advertiser Phone Website Page REGISTER NOW AT INSURORS.ORG 2022 CONTINUING EDUCATION
55The Tennessee Insuror You expect a company to have your back. We do. Our commercial lines products, tools and resources can help provide value to your commercial clients and support your business growth. Expect more. Expect Nationwide. solutions COMMERCIAL INSURANCE Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle, Nationwide is on your side and other marks displayed are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, unless otherwise disclosed. © 2020 Nationwide CMR-0576AO.1 (12/20) MOREEXPECT Visit Nationwide.com/ExpectMore PROUD PARTNER of INDEPENDENTS
56 The Tennessee Insuror DOING BUSINESS IN: AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MS, MO, NE, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA LEARN MORE AT WWW.MIDSOUTHMUTUAL.COM ConstruCtion trades Building ContraCtors non-emergenCy mediCal transport Home HealtHCare m Workers’oreCompensation Insuran C e For tH ose W H o Build o ur Communities ® MidSouth Mutual partners with wholesale entities and select retail agencies across its service footprint. The company is always seeking opportunities to grow in ways that are sustainable and mutually beneficial. + Serving clients across sixteen states with expansion into additional states planned. + Common sense underwriting, exceptional service, responsive and fair claims settlement. + A Exceptional Financial Stability Rating® from Demotech, Inc.
