Jim Brooks

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Missing Steering Wheel

Apr 28, 2023 | roughnotes.com | Jim Brooks

A life lesson in tech managementfrom a little pink JeepBy Dr. William T. Hold, CIC, CPCU, CLUWe live in a world, a country, a society, a social communication system, dominated and in many ways shaped by technology. As wonderful and exciting as this is, technology in its various forms—be it artificial intelligence (AI) or the most recent iteration, ChatGPT—is the proverbial two-headed coin.
GROW BUSINESS USE DATA

Apr 28, 2023 | roughnotes.com | Pam Deanovich |Jim Brooks

The importance of data collection, cleansing, security, and moreBy Pam DeanovichEvery agency/brokerage is different, but all of them collect data of some kind. Many firms, like Compass Insurance Services, where I serve as commercial lines account manager, track data to boost customer retention, obtain new business and hold staff accountable. This all helps keep our businesses growing and thriving. Why collect data?
Product Gets Upgrade

Apr 28, 2023 | roughnotes.com | Thomas McCoy |Jim Brooks

Transamerica bundles diverse serviceswith group term lifeBy Thomas A. McCoy, CLUGroup term life insurance has always been a highly-utilized employee benefits product. It may not be exciting or require a lot of discussion when benefits menus are formulated, but it is often the foundation for a benefits program. It provides critical protection for workers and their families.
I CAN’T USE CAUGHTUP

Apr 28, 2023 | roughnotes.com | Mary M. Belka |Cheryl Koch |Jim Brooks

I CAN’T USE CAUGHTUP Tips for overcoming chronic backlog By Mary Belka, CPCU, ARM, ARe, RPLU, CIC, and Cheryl Koch, CPCU, ARM, AAI, ACSR, AFIS It’s become a familiar lament from harried, overwrought account managers: “How in the world can I learn to work in a different way when I’m already so far behind?” And yet, as the saying goes, if you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten—which is further and further behind. Backlog elements Chronic backlog has...
Avoiding Policy Language

Apr 28, 2023 | roughnotes.com | Marc McNulty |Jim Brooks

Exercise caution whenever coveragequestions get into the weedsBy Marc McNulty, CIC, CRMAnyone who is new to the insurance industry will typically have several hurdles to overcome, followed by several sighs of relief afterward.
Connecting Digital Roundtrip

Apr 28, 2023 | roughnotes.com | Anupam Gupta |Jim Brooks

Connecting Digital Roundtrip Each of four pillars has a differentbusiness focus and benefitsBy Anupam GuptaWhile the global economy is riding through uncertain times, the future continues to look promising for the insurance industry as it has shown great resilience through the pandemic.
Montana agency helping others

Apr 28, 2023 | roughnotes.com | Dennis H. Pillsbury |Jim Brooks

Montana agency focuses on the experience for customers and vendor partnersBy Dennis H. PillsburyHow would you like to provide a product that no one wants to buy and no one wants to use? That’s insurance. It’s both loved and hated. Hated when you have to pay the bill, but loved when it makes you whole again after you have a loss that could result in your losing everything. “That’s what ran through my mind when I was bouncing around a name for the agency,” says R.
DON’T BE AFRAID

Apr 28, 2023 | roughnotes.com | Jim Brooks |Reghan Brandt

DON’T BE AFRAID Three tips for conquering fearso you can journey toward greatnessBy Reghan Brandt I recently had a conversation with a friend about the notion of “good” being the enemy of “great.” I’ve heard it before, but this time it hit me hard.
Self Enrollment

Apr 28, 2023 | roughnotes.com | Joe Goolsby |Jim Brooks

Self Enrollment Finding the key to boosting voluntary benefits participation for your clientsBy Joe GoolsbyWe’re all aware of how much the benefits world shifted during COVID. Perhaps nothing changed more than benefits enrollment—specifically voluntary benefits enrollment.
Nonprofits Social Services

Apr 28, 2023 | roughnotes.com | Joseph Harrington |Jim Brooks

A “firm” market challenges agenciespressed to take on added riskBy Joseph S. Harrington, CPCUNonprofit organizations in general, and social services in particular, face a challenging environment in the post-pandemic era, as they grapple with a growing demand for their services and a tightening supply of qualified workers to deliver them. A “firming” market for property and liability insurance only adds to their challenges.