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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:

Targeted Account Profile for Public and Private Institutions 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.

Your E&O policy is one of the most important coverages that an agency should have. Here are some key tips to help determine which coverage is the best fit. Do some homework on the various E&O carriers. Things to look at include: - How long have they been writing this coverage - What is their AM Best rating - What resources do they have to help you manage your E&O exposure

A Market Alliance with an Iroquois Carrier-Partner is: A means of supporting the growth of an existing book of business; A method of maximizing the revenue to your agency from an existing book of business; A strategy for increasing commission and profit sharing revenue from all of the business you write through Iroquois Carrier-Partners; Something you should explore with your Iroquois Representative.

Best Practices data shows that the fastest growing and most profitable independent insurance agencies have fewer carrier relationships than average agencies. By carefully selecting a core group of carriers, they build stronger relationships with their underwriters and greater knowledge of the target business within their appetite, which helps them write and retain more business and build larger and more stable revenue streams. For more, click below. http://www.iroquoisgroup.com/sites/default/files/Market%20Optimization%20and%20Consolidation%20McKay.pdf

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

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

A Market Alliance with an Iroquois Carrier-Partner is: 1. A method of maximizing the revenue to your agency from an existing book of business; 2. A means of supporting the growth of an existing book of business; 3. A strategy for increasing commission and profit sharing revenue from all of the business you write through Iroquois Carrier-Partners; 4. Something you should explore with your Iroquois Representative. A Market Alliance occurs when a Member Agent moves an existing book of business under an Iroquois contract in order to improve results and compensation. Because of its size and historic profitability, Iroquois earns "preferred" status with the vast majority of its carriers.

Berkshire Hathaway GUARD has begun offering Homeowners and Personal Umbrella coverage (click here) in Pennsylvania. Targeted markets include one- to four-family dwellings, renters, and condo unit owners. In addition, the product can accommodate situations where business and personal insurance needs overlap, providing coverage for residences owned by corporations or LLCs; dwellings held for rent (written under a Homeowners policy with an endorsement for rental units); home-sharing services (e.g., Airbnb); and residences where incidental business activities occur.