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In most agencies, holding customers accountable seems to be one of the bigger frustrations. Have you ever thought or said "why is it always our fault when a customer has a loss that is not covered? They knew that they didn't have that coverage." For agents serious about minimizing the potential of their agency facing an E&O claim, achieving a high level of customer accountability is a great goal to strive for. To achieve this goal may require some hard work and some new initiatives. Documentation is a key but documentation is more than just words in the system. Any agency will be hard pressed to hold their customers accountable without a file that is well documented. However, documentation by itself will not get it done. Agents need to fully understand that when an E&O claim happens, the E&O carrier will look to secure the actual file in question (paper or electronic) to see what it looks like and what it contains. Solid documentation that is handled promptly, is accurate and professional will make the E&O carrier's job much easier. Conversely, a file with sketchy documentation could prove to be a problem in an E&O matter. Effective handling of client interactions is very important. Every day, customers are asking questions, modifying coverages, etc. The questions (and the answers provided) should be fully documented in the agency management system. In addition, requests to delete or decline coverage or to modify coverage in some manner should be documented as well. But documentation only in the system may not be enough. The agency should have a procedure for confirming / memorializing the discussion. Without this, mistakes can occur. Possibly, what the agency heard is not what the customer requested or possibly what the customer advised is not what they really meant. Let's take the scenario that the agency has provided a personal lines umbrella proposal and the customer calls to advise your agency that they are not going to purchase this coverage. W

Iroquois adds Agency Revolution as preferred vendor partner The Iroquois Group® has added Agency Revolution as a preferred vendor for marketing automation for their member agencies. "We're committed to support the growth and profitability of our member agencies," said David Ward, Managing Partner of The Iroquois Group. "We all know the insurance consumer has changed, and we think Agency Revolution's latest marketing automation software can help our agencies bridge the gap with today's consumer." Michael Jans, Founder and CEO of Agency Revolution said, "The Iroquois Group is one of the great insurance organizations in the United States today. We're honored to be selected by them and thrilled to be working with their member agencies." Agency Revolution's latest platform, AR Connect™, is designed to automate communications with clients/prospects and streamline internal workflows, while helping the agency engage with their customers. It integrates with most industry management systems, such as AMS360, Applied TAM, QQ Catalyst, Hawksoft and more. Their software has been awarded the esteemed 5 Star Best of the Best Award by Insurance Business America. About The Iroquois Group: The Iroquois Group® is one of the oldest and largest networks of independent agencies, with more than 2,200 members in 41 states. Members of all sizes join Iroquois for assistance in increasing their revenue, profits and agency value. About Agency Revolution: Agency Revolution is the leading provider of marketing automation and communications technology for independent agents and brokers in the US and Canada. For 20 years, AR has leveraged its expertise in marketing, insurance, and technology to help today's Independent Agent AUTOMATE, ENGAGE, and GROW their agencies. Agency Revolution 888.208.9239 grow@agencyrevolution.com www.agencyrevolution.com David Ward The Iroquois Group 843-568-5543 dward@iroquoisgroup.com

Iroquois Midwest honored by Grange Iroquois Midwest, Inc., has earned Senior Partner designation from Grange Insurance agency network, placing Iroquois Midwest in an elite insurance group. The honor, which Iroquois has won for the fourth consecutive year, recognizes Grange's independent agent partners for their excellent performance. Iroquois Midwest has been a Grange partner since 2009. Fewer than 180 of Grange's 4,000 independent insurance agencies attained Senior Partner status in 2014, putting Iroquois in the top 14 percent of all Grange agencies. Iroquois Midwest, headed by Managing Partner Philip Dawson, is part of The Iroquois insurance Group®, one of the oldest and largest networks of independent insurance agencies, with more than 2,200 members in 40 states. The company has recently expanded to include Kentucky into its agency network. Grange Insurance agency network is a regional insurance network provider based in Columbus, Ohio. With $2 billion in assets, the company offers auto, home, life and business insurance protection. Grange, and its affiliate Integrity, operates through a network of independent agents in 13 states in the Midwest and South. Grange is in the business of protecting people's lives when and how they need it. Established in 1935, Grange has grown from rural beginnings to a financially stable enterprise that offers independent agents and policyholders the highest level of service and support. For more information, visit grangeinsurance.com. Insurance agencies of all sizes and shapes join The Iroquois Group to increase revenue, profits and agency value.

Inc. magazine recently ranked The Iroquois Group® among the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The Inc. 5000 list represents a comprehensive look at an important segment of the economy-America's independent entrepreneurs. This is the second year in a row that Iroquois has made the list. The insurance agency network that began with a handful of agencies in Western New York is now operating in 41 states, serving more than 2,250 member agencies. "Our growth has been driven by our business model which relies on strong relationships with our Member Agencies and core Carrier Partners," said Laurie A. Branch, president of The Iroquois Group. Inc. unveiled its 2017 list online at Inc.com on Wednesday. Agencies of all sizes and shapes join The Iroquois Group to increase revenue, profits and agency value. For more information, go online to www.iroquoisgroup.com.

Iroquois makes Inc. magazine list Inc. magazine recently ranked The Iroquois Group® 4,884th on its 34th annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a comprehensive look at an important segment of the economy-America's independent entrepreneurs. It is Iroquois' first time on the list. The insurance agency network that began with a handful of agencies in Western New York, is now operating in 41 states, serving more than 2,250 member agencies. "Our growth has been driven by our business model which relies on strong relationships with our Member Agencies and core Carrier Partners," said Laurie A. Branch, president of The Iroquois Group. The 2015 Inc. 5000, unveiled online at Inc.com and with the top 500 companies featured in the September issue of Inc. is the most competitive crop in the list's history. The average company on the list achieved a three-year growth of 490 percent. The Inc. 5000's aggregate revenue is $205 billion, generating 647,000 jobs over the past three years. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. Agencies of all sizes and shapes join The Iroquois Group to increase revenue, profits and agency value.

Iroquois Midwest earns Grange Senior Partner honor For the third consecutive year, Iroquois Midwest, Inc., has earned Senior Partner designation from Grange Insurance group network, placing Iroquois Midwest in an elite group. The honor recognizes Grange's independent agent partners for their excellent performance. Iroquois Midwest, headed by Managing Partner Philip Dawson, is part of The Iroquois Group®, one of the oldest and largest networks of independent agencies, with more than 2,200 members in 40 states. Iroquois Midwest has been a Grange partner since 2009. Fewer than 300 of Grange's 3,600 agencies attained Senior Partner status in 2013, putting Iroquois in the top 12 percent of all Grange agencies. Grange Insurance group network, with $2 billion in assets and more than $1 billion in annual revenue, is an insurance cluster provider based in Columbus, Ohio. Through its network of independent agents, Grange offers auto, home, life and business insurance cluster protection. Established in 1935, the company and its affiliates serve policyholders in Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.grangeinsurance.com. Agencies of all sizes and shapes join The Iroquois Group to increase revenue, profits and agency value. For more information, go online to www.iroquoisgroup.com.

Askins joins Iroquois in South Carolina Mark Askins, a Columbia, S.C. native with more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, has joined Iroquois South as a regional manager for South Carolina and western North Carolina. Askins spent more than 20 years with The Hartford, most recently as their Richmond, Va., branch manager. Although finishing his career with The Hartford in Virginia, Askins began it in Columbia, S.C., and he held auditing, underwriting, and management positions in their Charlotte Office. He graduated from Clemson University but is a Gamecock at heart. "Mark has worked for years with Iroquois in Virginia," said Iroquois South managing partner, David Ward "so he knows and appreciates our business model and the ways in which Iroquois adds value to our member agencies. When Mark announced that he was retiring from Hartford about the time our South Carolina Regional Manager announced he was leaving, I jumped at the chance to add Mark to our team." In addition to servicing existing member agencies in the Carolinas and enrolling new ones, Askins will lead a special initiative to further develop Iroquois' capabilities for Middle Market accounts. "Mark brings valuable expertise in the Middle Market arena," said Ward, "and we are excited that he can help our members write and retain more Middle Market accounts." Iroquois South is part of The Iroquois Group®, one of the oldest and largest networks of independent agencies, with more than 2,200 members in 41 states. Agencies of all sizes and shapes join Iroquois to increase revenue, profits and agency value. For more information, go online to www.iroquoisgroup.com

After studying agency websites across North America, they concluded that while the Internet is the communications medium today, current agency websites are seldom visited, and not effective enough to allow agencies to compete with the online insurance sales forces of the little green lizard. AgenciesOnline understands that the Internet and electronic marketing is now, and agencies need to embrace this fact today to more effectively compete.

Some agencies consistently generate earnings before tax (EBT) margins of 20% or more and other agencies struggle to generate any profit at all. In fact, some agencies lose money year after year and eventually are forced to sell to other agencies.

In our more than thirty years of experience with small and mid-sized agencies, we have seen the critical importance to agencies of profit sharing or supplemental compensation. Whether called profit sharing, contingency income, bonus or supplemental compensation - this additional compensation is for many agencies the Principal's take home pay at year end. And, in this ongoing soft market when revenues are down for many agencies, supplemental compensation becomes even more vital.

Auburndale, FL - Iroquois South® announced that Pat Truax has joined the company as a regional manager for Florida. Truax brings over twenty five years of P&C insurance experience in Florida to his new position with Iroquois. He previously served in underwriting and sales positions with Appalachian Underwriters, Allstate, and Zurich. "Pat is very well known within the agency and carrier community in Florida and he will be a great asset to our Members there," said David Ward, Regional Vice President of Iroquois South. Iroquois South is part of The Iroquois Group®, one of the oldest and largest networks of independent agencies, with more than 2,100 members in 39 states. Agencies of all sizes and shapes join Iroquois to increase revenue, profits and agency value. For more information, go online to www.iroquoissouth.com or contact Truax at

The following questions can help you identify areas where insurance agency management fine-tuning may be beneficial in increasing revenue, profit, productivity or insurance agency value. Some questions are very basic (Agency Management 101) while others are more challenging. http://www.iroquoisgroup.com/sites/default/files/TOOL-Sept%202016.pdf

Iroquois insurance group, an Insurance Group Network providing Insurance services (Iroquois services) through Independent insurance agencies nationwide with property, and liability products. Iroquois Group provides Independent insurance agents a Insurance Group Network of providers across the United States.Insurance cluster,Insurance agency network,Insurance network

Iroquois is committed to helping its Member Agencies grow, which has been a challenge for many agencies in recent years. We have therefore developed a new program to help our Members write more new business with our Carrier-Partners in 2012. Under the Commercial Leads Program, Iroquois will provide commercial leads to qualified Member Agencies in one of two ways:

Agency owners have many issues to deal with on a day-to-day basis and little time to address them. Sometimes this pressure can cause an owner to make simple but costly mistakes. In the attached PDF, we address common mistakes that agency owners should try to avoid. Click on the PDF below to read more.

Agency perpetuation is a problem for most agencies. In a recent study sponsored by The Insurance Journal, it was found that over 50 percent of agency owners were concerne

Insurance Management Solutions (IMS) by Xanatek -a powerful, innovative and affordable system that offers comprehensive insurance agency management, document imaging capabilities, ACORD, Real Time, carrier downloads for policy and commission, and so much more! http://www.iroquoisgroup.com/content/agency-management-system-ims-xanatek

Iroquois insurance group, an Insurance Group Network providing Insurance services (Iroquois services) through Independent insurance agencies nationwide with property, and liability products. Iroquois Group provides Independent insurance agents a Insurance Group Network of providers across the United States.Insurance cluster,Insurance agency network,Insurance network

Producer Financing Program Iroquois insurance group is committed to stimulating growth for its Member Agencies and Carrier Partners. One strategy for stimulating growth is the Iroquois Producer Financing Program (PFP), whereby Iroquois group co-invests with select Member Agencies in the cost to hire and train new producers. This program is designed to benefit all parties involved: the Member Agency, new Producer, Carrier-Partners and Iroquois services. See your Iroquois insurance Representative for more details. Note: This program is available to members at levels 1, 2 or 3 of the PartnerPlan.